Architectural History and Theory Group

About AHTG

Contact us: S. Kite (Chair), Sam Clark, Adam Hardy, Allison Dutoit, Sarah Lupton, Mhairi McVicar, Juliet Odgers, Andrew Roberts, Jessica Reynolds, Cristian Suau, Kathryn Wilkinson

The work of the Architectural History and Theory Group (AHTG), as reflected in its research projects, publications, and other activities, embraces a wide range of interests linked by a common concern to understand the histories and theories of architecture—and its practice, making and education—within the situated realities of its varied cultures and contexts. These concerns are grouped under five general themes as outlined below. Membership of the Group comprises both staff and post-graduate students. Through conferences, exhibitions, design, pedagogy, and editorships the Group aims to augment the impact of its research on society, education and practice. In recent years, for example, the Group has hosted international conferences exploring the themes of Primitive, Quality, and Economy. Stephen Kite and Juliet Odgers are editors of Architectural Research Quarterly ; Sam Clark, Mhairi McVicar and Cristian Suau are co-editors of WSA’s own journal MADE, and Adam Hardy is editor of South Asian Studies. Regular WSA seminars provide a lively forum for the exchange of ideas among staff and students; we currently have over forty PhD students enrolled in WSA as a whole. The Group’s research was praised as of ‘international quality’ in the last Research Assessment Exercise.

Cultures of the City, Landscape and Environment
The Group naturally sees its work in the settings of wider geographies and cultural contexts. The construction of the public realm in urban design informs Allison Dutoit’s practice-engaged research, and Juliet Odgers explores 17th and 18th century British architecture and gardens, principally through the work and thinking of John Evelyn. Marga Munar Bauza looks at the morphology of cities and shifts between public and private realms. Stephen Kite discovers how John Ruskin’s naturalism informs his readings of Italian cities such as Venice and Verona. Cristian Suau researches sustainable urbanism both in Europe and Latin America.

Cultures, Histories and Ideas
Understanding culture and religion, and the resultant typologies and identities, informs the work of Adam Hardy on the history of architecture in South Asia, specifically Indian temple Architecture; this is also the case in Kathryn Wilkinson’s studies of Welsh Non-Conformism and Chapel architecture. The historiography of science is explored by Juliet Odgers in her work on John Evelyn and natural philosophy.

Visual Cultures
The fundamental architectural practices of drawing and critical observation permeate many aspects of the Groups investigations. Stephen Kite explores architecture as part of a wider visual culture, examining John Ruskin as an optical thinker, and how Adrian Stokes’s psychologised readings of architecture is contextualised through the other graphic and plastic arts. Mhairi McVicar questions how technical instructions in construction drawings are actually poetic and collaborative statements. As a means of analysis of South Asian and other architectures Adam Hardy uses drawing as a fundamental tool of research, even as Allison Dutoit employs looking as inquiry in drawing the public realm.

Cultures of Practice and Pedagogy
Many of the Group have practiced extensively, or remain linked to architectural practice, and are centrally concerned with the ethical making and procurement of architecture; most also teach in the design studios of WSA. Mhairi McVicar’s research pursues the consequences of the desire for precision in architectural practice, and is a director of the Collaborative Design Studio (e.g. Westray Heritage Centre Annex, 2008); Cristian Suau experiments with the potential of Eco-fabrication and compact dwellings; Adam Hardy is designing a new temple for Karnataka, India; Allison Dutoit works with the Scandinavian practice , Gehl architects, Copenhagen. The thinking and building of individual architects is explored in the Group, as in Stephen Kite’s work on Colin St. John Wilson. Andrew Roberts’ depth of interest in pedagogy is reflected in his long involvement with CEBE, and he researches the potential of problem-based learning in architecture. Sarah Lupton investigates the professional and legal aspects of design and building procurement and contributes to texts widely used in practice and education.

World Cultures
AHTG has a strong reputation in research into the history and theory of non-Western cultures—especially through PRASADA—as is reflected in the diverse interests and backgrounds of its postgraduate community. Stephen Kite has researched into the vernacular architectures and settlement patterns of the Middle East. Global and Local agendas are also reported in Kathryn Wilkinson’s studies.

Research Seminars 2012
The WSA's Architectural History and Theory Research Group has scheduled the following informal research seminars for WSA staff and research students: 

31st October 2012 at 1pm in the DTP room
Adam Hardy 
‘Preservation and Recreation in the Indian Temple Universe’
(Part of the ‘Conservation’ theme) 

14th November 2012 at 12.30pm in the Green Room     
John Preston ( MA, DipTP, MRTPI, IHBC, FRSA)
John Preston studied Architecture and Art History before becoming a planner and then a conservation officer. He was Education Chair for the IHBC and a trustee of the Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC). He was also Historic Environment Manager for Cambridge City Council.
'Philosophies of Conservation'
(Part of the ‘Conservation’ theme) 

5th December 2012 at 1pm in the DTP room         
Mhairi McVicar and Megha Chand - Inglis 
'Precision' 

For further details please email Katrina Lewis: lewisk2@cf.ac.uk