CFP_On papers Archives for project, history and prospects

Introduction:

In 1999, the proceedings of a significant conference on the subject of “archives for the History
of Architecture” were published. The conference was organised by the Ministry of Cultural
Heritage and Activities. The objective of the conference was to furnish an initial response to the
mounting demand for the organisation, valorisation and preservation of architectural archival
fonds, with a focus on both academic institutions and State Archives. The objective of this study
was to initiate a functional discussion on the creation of a typological reference tool that
would facilitate the identification of the structural elements of documentary complexes. This
tool would then be used to select the aspects that could provide researchers working in the field
of architecture and, more generally, design-related disciplines with guidance.

In the period between the initial confrontation and the present moment, a substantial corpus
of research has emerged, encompassing numerous studies and demonstrating significant depth
and breadth. Notably, this research has been predominantly conducted within the domain of
historical sciences, thereby transcending the conventional paradigm of specialized history, which
was historically produced by architects for architects. Over the course of the last three decades,
there has been an increasing recognition of the necessity to reintroduce the practice of history to
the primary utilisation of documents. This necessity has been compounded by the imperative to
establish new archives.

It is imperative to acknowledge the significant necessity to modernise methodologies employed
in the management of project archives, particularly regarding the promotion of architectural
heritage, including its less well-explored domains. This imperative is especially pronounced
in the context of contemporary heritage, which, despite its comprehensive status, frequently
deviates from the characteristics of heritage from previous eras and encompasses a vast array
of heterogeneous sources. Moreover, there are specific areas that require consideration. These
include the history of the decorative arts and the history of design. In relation to the latter, the
“formation” of archives continues to present considerable problems regarding responsibility
and cultural validity, particularly in the context of more recent studies.

Publication:

The articles that have been selected following a blind double peer review process will be
published in a collective volume of the series “Quaderni di ArchitrA - Architettura
attraverso gli Archivi” of the publisher Quasar of Rome [https://www.architra.eu/collana/].
A limited number of articles will be published in the scientific journal Histories of Postwar
Architecture [Histories of Postwar Architecture], which is published by the Department of Architecture of the Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna. The articles will have been selected by the Scientific
Committee and undergone a double-blind peer review. The journal is recognised by ANVUR
(Agenzia Nazionale di Valutazione delle Università e degli Istituti di Ricerca) and classified
“Class A”. As of June 2022, the document is also indexed in Scopus [https://hpa.unibo.it].

Important dates:

15–04–2026 | abstract submission deadline
· 24–04–2026 | notification of abstract acceptance by the Scientific Committee
· 11–05–2026 | registration deadline
· 10/11–06–2026 | conference dates
· 30–06–2026 | full paper delivery