International Conference on Architectural Criticism

01/10/2021

International Conference on Architectural Criticism       
 
9, 10, 16 & 17 October 2021   Online at 14:00 – 17:30 GMT 
 
Press Release and Conference Program, 27 Sep 2021 
 
Why this Conference? 
 
Should architectural criticism be enlightening? Should it help in the creation of a better built environment? Is there a factual basis to it? Does it have a duty to present evidence in the evaluation of a building? Or should it take on what architects say about their designs?  
 
In the context of a flat internet, should architectural criticism be able to define best practices? Does it wield the power over who is in and who is out? 
 
Architectural criticism, like all human endeavors, is at a crucial juncture. While serious architecture struggles for recognition, much so-called architectural criticism is merely a poorly paid, decorative legitimation for hyperbolic practice. Incisive architectural criticism is rare, while the definition of criticism itself has become opaque.  
 
The international conference has gathered exceptional papers that define the purposes and methods of architectural criticism. What should the ethical basis be of architectural criticism? Can it be objective in the context of paid content? Should it outline ideal practices? Or what should it do? 
 
All contributions address either the duty or the power of architectural criticism, in both cases offering the outline of one analysis of an existing building.
General information 
 
The conference is scheduled in such a way that as many people as    possible will be able to participate across the world. 
 
There are therefore four weekend slots, structuring the conference   in four sessions. Each session begins with greetings from the    organizers and session chairs, followed by one of the four keynote   lecturers and then the four selected presenters. A roundtable   discussion with all participants concludes each session. 
 
There are three breaks. 
 
Please note that the conference will be recorded and posted. 
 
Free online registration www.soa.utexas.edu/icac2021, a maximum of 280   viewers can be accommodated.  
 
The Zoom link for all sessions is  https://utexas.zoom.us/j/99569235856   Meeting ID: 995 6923 5856 
 
For all presenters, including keynote lecturers, session chairs and    presenters of papers, please test your connection half an hour before   the official start of your session. 
 
Each participant is given an allocated time, including time for Q & As.    Please adhere to your allocated time. It is a matter of courtesy to everyone else to keep to your schedule. 
 
For more information visit: www.soa.utexas.edu/icac2021