CFP - On papers: Archives for project, history and prospects

[Matthew Heins]

There's a CFP for the conference "On papers: Archives for project, history and prospects," taking place in Bari (Italy) in June with abstracts due April 15.

The conference website is https://www.architra.eu/convegni/, and the CFP can be found (in Italian and English) at https://www.architra.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/call-ON-PAPERS-bari.pdf.

A portion of the CFP is copied below, but go to the link to see all the details.

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The ArCoD Architettura Costruzioni Design Department of the Bari Polytechnic University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon and the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna - HPA Lab, is organising the international conference “On papers. Archives for project, history and prospects”. The conference is scheduled to take place in Bari from 10 to 11 June 2026.

· Web page: [https://www.architra.eu/convegni/]

· 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.

· Themes

The objective of the conference is to select proposals concerning examples and case studies, with the intention of organising the contributions in chronological sessions. This approach is designed to encourage the comparison of specific experiences and case studies, with a view to highlighting practices and methodologies for documenting heritage in relation to paper-based documentary sources, as well as the possibilities offered by digital and new technologies. The title of the conference, “On Papers”, is intended to allude, in this sense, to two things. Firstly, it refers to the physical nature of the documentary units in question. Secondly, and more importantly, it refers to the broader meaning of the expression itself. In other words, it refers to a more theoretical interpretation of the process of the formation of architectural archives. This is because it can delve into specific themes of archival practice and return to multiple cultural references, even those less aligned with uncritical practices.

The objective of the conference is to initiate a process of reconstruction and comparison of archive culture during the 20th century and up to the present day, in its relationship with architectural culture. Furthermore, the aim is to establish a relationship between the disciplines of the project and the professions of the historian and the archivist. Proposals will be considered that present historical reconstructions based primarily on documentary deposits, whether published or unpublished, with a view to highlighting the relationship between the structure of archival funds and research methodologies for the study of the built heritage. The objective of this study is to initiate a comprehensive reconstruction of the framework of exchanges that has historically linked architectural culture and the archival discipline. This reconstruction will encompass the 20th century and will extend to the present day. The following areas will be the primary focus of this study:

- archives for the history of architecture and the archives of architects;
- architecture and politics in 20th century archives;
- architecture in public archives and institutions for the preservation of special archives of the project;
- archives for the valorisation of material and immaterial heritage;
- networks of archives and digital systems for the preservation and valorisation of the project;
- archival practices for architecture and design fonds;
- business archives, publishers’ archives and fonds of international exhibitions, from the archives of the Art and Architecture Biennales to business museums;
- hybrid archives and the intersection of architecture, design and art.

The scientific reflection aims to facilitate active contributions from the various domains of knowledge pertinent to the themes, including project culture and archiving in relation to architecture, town planning, design, history, and other related fields such as sociology and
anthropology, as well as the legal sciences. The final composition of the reflection will be determined by the received paper proposals. The scope is conceived to be extensive in nature, yet simultaneously concentrated, thereby facilitating the attainment of a diverse array of thematic and monographic methodologies.