HS3: Urban Humanities
About
This Working Group explores the historical ways that architecture and the urban built environment have operated in modern political life.
Open to New People
Active since: 2018
- Syracuse University
- University of Rochester
- Cornell University
- Hamilton College
Collaborative Goals
We hoped to host two events this year. Due to ongoing challenges related to COVID-19, we were only able to host one event.
Syracuse University hosted Adedoyin Teriba of Vassar College, Sept. 23, 2021. The history of architectural education in Nigeria in a “professional sense” is relatively young - if one narrows the definition of “architectural education” to the sort of training that leads to a bachelor’s degree in architecture. The School of Architecture within the Ahmadu Bello University in Northern Nigeria started in the 1960s. A commitment to create a regional architecture became its focus from the outset. This desire continues to the present-day throughout the country. Treiba's lecture contrasts the academic approach to regional architectural design in the country with how her knowledge of daemons and rituals informed her design.
A public lecture scheduled for Hamilton College (Preeti Chopra, University of Wisconsin-Madison) was cancelled again. In place of that event, we agreed to refocus our attention on our own writing projects to jump start work over the Summer 2022. We met for three hours on May 13, 2022 to workshop papers. The goal to support our work has been quite successful. Two members are preparing pieces for publication in scholarly journals. Two members are preparing manuscripts for new monographs.
Group Organizers
Peter Christensen
Ani and Mark Gabrellian Director of the Humanities Center; Professor of Art History, University of Rochester
Activities
Architecture, Daemons and Regionalism in Southwest Nigeria (1970s to the Present)
Sept. 23, 2021, 5:30 p.m.
Work-in-Progress Remote Workshop/Retreat
May 12, 2022, 9 a.m.
Prof. Ola Uduku: Aid by Design?
Nov. 9, 2022, 5:15 p.m.
Group Outcomes
- In December 2020, our Working Group hosted an online workshop on "Unlearning". This two hour workshop was attended by approximately 250 participants and featured prominent scholars from a variety of non-CNY Humanities institutions. Last year, we saw the publication of three pieces in the digital journal PLATFORM SPACE. “Unlearning Workshop: A critical transcript, 9 December 2020. Part I Swati Chattopadhyay, Mabel O. Wilson, and Peter Christensen." PLATFORM: a digital forum for conversations about buildings, spaces, and landscapes. Edited by PETER CHRISTENSEN, LAWRENCE CHUA, SAMIA HENNI, LISA TRIVEDI, November 2021. “Unlearning Workshop: A critical transcript, 9 December 2020. Part II Ana María León, Charles Davis II, and Lawrence Chua." PLATFORM: a digital forum for conversations about buildings, spaces, and landscapes. Edited by PETER CHRISTENSEN, LAWRENCE CHUA, SAMIA HENNI, LISA TRIVEDI, January 31, 2022 . “Unlearning Workshop: A critical transcript, 9 December 2020. Part III SAMIA HENNI, LESLEY LOKKO, VICTORIA YOUNG, ANA MARÍA LEÓN, CHARLES DAVIS II, LAWRENCE CHUA, PETER CHRISTENSEN, LISA TRIVEDI, MABEL O. WILSON, SWATI CHATTOPADHYAY. PLATFORM: a digital forum for conversations about buildings, spaces, and landscapes. Edited by PETER CHRISTENSEN, LAWRENCE CHUA, SAMIA HENNI, LISA TRIVEDI, March 7, 2022.
- Members of our group have also begun discussing pedagogical collaborations across campuses (Syracuse University and Hamilton College).
- We are currently considering an opportunity to apply for funding from the NEH to support that kind of cross institutional collaboration, which is a goal for the coming year.