The research unit Theory and History of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning has been active since fifteen years. The main research activity consists of doctoral research and the preparation of publications and exhibitions. There is no further internal division of research fields or sub-disciplines: the research teams are put together and work per project. The department has two publication series with monographical studies and catalogues by its members and external authors.
The research unit Theory and History is founding member and an active participant of the Ghent Urban Studies Team (GUST)
Members of the research unit
- Autonomous academic staff:
Guy Chatel, Mil De Kooning, Dirk De Meyer, Ronald De Meyer, Maarten Delbeke, Fredie Flore, Johan Lagae, Pieter Uyttenhove and Bart Verschaffel. - Assistant professors:
Bruno Notteboom, Anne-Franyoise Morel and Maarten Van Den Driessche. - Assistants and research staff with doctoral project:
Sofie Boonen, Maarten Liefooghe, Eelco Nagelsmlt, Nele De Raedt, Kim De Raedt, David Peleman and Christophe van Gerrewey.
Research topics
- The history of Belgian 20th century architecture and urbanism with a particular interest in the architecture and dwelling culture of the fifties and sixties, the architecture of the thirties, the architecture of the Belgian world exhibitions (Expo 58, among others), institutional buildings and the post-war architectural criticism.
- The history of construction, and the influence of the introduction of new materials such as steel and concrete on the developments in architecture in particular
- 20th century history of architecture and urban history as well as the heritage issue in a (post) colonial context, with special attention for Central Africa and Belgian Congo.
- The evolution of the landscape in Flanders in the 20th Century, with a particular interest in the representation and formulation of a theory of the landscape and in the impact of public infrastructure on the significance and perception of landscape and city.
- The architectural programme, architectural typologies, and architectural design of semi-public buildings such as cultural buildings (theatres, museums … ) and schools.
- The interaction between architecture and the arts, such as the use of art in public places and the reuse of historic monuments for public functions.
- The architectural theory and historiography of architecture of the 16th up to the 18th century in the Netherlands, Italy and Central Europe. Recent research projects include the work of Giambattista Piranesi, inaugural rituals of cult buildings in the 17th and 18th century, e.a.
- Theory of the city, urban culture and city representation.