Diversifying the Architectural Canon with “Crossed Histories” – Call for Papers

In June 2024, we held the session "Forging 'Crossed Histories' of Twentieth Century Architecture and Urban Design" at the European Architectural History Network (EAHN) conference in Athens. In this session, we posed the methodological challenge of writing alternative histories of architecture and urban design by exploring the concept of histoire croisée. Introduced in the early 21st century by sociologist Bénédicte Zimmermann and historian Michael Werner, histoire croisée offers an alternative to comparative or transfer studies. Based on the active and dynamic principle of "crossing," this method captures multiple perspectives within a dynamic whole. Rather than merely studying the relationships between different narratives, it focuses on the novel and original elements produced by the crossing, as well as the ways in which it affects each of the "crossed" parties. In this sense, histoire croisée breaks with a one-dimensional perspective that simplifies and homogenizes, in favor of a multidimensional approach that acknowledges plurality and complex configurations.

When applied to the field of architectural history, we believe that "crossed histories" have great potential to diversify the existing, overtly Eurocentric architectural canon. Rather than a unidirectional, dominant narrative focused on a single (white, male) architect, this method encourages a more multifaceted view of architectural developments, analyzing a diverse range of actors who have simultaneously and dynamically contributed to the architectural project. We believe that this method creates space for voices that are currently absent from the canon to be heard in their full right. The challenge of this method is also its strength: to see the reality of the different perspectives of the social groups involved means that scholars must critically examine their own position.

For this international workshop, we invite papers that explore the possibilities of writing a crossed history by using a rich "site of encounter" within twentieth-century architecture and urban design as a concrete case study. Examples include the crossing of people, objects, practices, and perspectives in the activities of the Aga Khan Development Network, the reciprocal, but hierarchical, knowledge exchange within the Non-Aligned Movement, or various forms of South-South Cooperation. Papers will scrutinize the construction of the selected crossing by understanding the various social viewpoints intersecting at the moment of contact, as well as what happened before the crossing and the outcomes and processes of transformation brought about by it. Scholars are equally challenged to add a reflexive component to their crossed history, further nuancing the intersection in terms of their own changing positionality vis-à-vis the object of research. We particularly welcome contributions that do not assume dominant (Western) narratives, but instead take stock of architectural production that has been disregarded through the lens of whiteness, focusing on the roles of marginalised actors in architectural design, the suppressed architectural knowledge of particular stakeholders, or the ignored built environments of specific territories.

The workshop will take place from 2 November (arrival), through 3 November 2025 (full day), to 4 November 2025 (half day) at ETH Zurich’s off-campus meeting platform, Congressi Stefano Franscinci, situated on the legendary Monte Verità in Switzerland. We aim to cover travel and accommodation costs, subject to the availability of funding. Besides a stocktaking of what "crossed histories" have brought to the field of architecture so far and exchanging ideas on how to overcome the challenges of this method, this workshop will also serve as the foundation for an edited volume. The goal of this volume is to inspire other historians to write "crossed histories" of their own research topics, working globally to produce a more diverse, polyvocal, and equitable history of architecture and urban design that can substitute the Eurocentric perspective.

Please submit full papers of 2500-3000 words (excl. references) and a short bio of no more than 200 words to Cathelijne Nuijsink ()

Schedule

Jan 31, 2025: Call for Papers opens

May 15, 2025: Submission of full papers (2500-3000 words)

June 15, 2025: Notification of speaker selection, and feedback on selected papers

Sep 15, 2025: Deadline revised conference paper

Oct 15, 2025: Submission of PowerPoint presentation

Nov 2, 2025: Arrival of Speakers on Monte Verita

Nov 3-4, 2025: Workshop