Front to Rear: Architecture during World War II

Conference co-organized by the Institute of Fine Arts, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal, and Princeton University’s School of Architecture Saturday, March 7 10:00 to 7:00 Sunday, March 8 10:00 to 6:00 [daylight saving time begins] Institute of Fine Arts, New York University 1 East 78th Street, NYC Scholarly direction: Jean-Louis Cohen Introductory remarks: Stan Allen, Jean-Louis Cohen, Mirko Zardini Keynote speaker: Kenneth Frampton Closing remarks: Joan Ockman Moderators: Jeffry M. Diefendorf, Hartmut Frank, Antoine Picon, Anthony Vidler Speakers: Lucia Allais, Pep Avilés, Maristella Casciato, Marina Dmitrieva-Einhorn, Carola Hein, Alicia Imperiale, Benoît Jacquet, Paul B. Jaskot, Anna Jozefacka, Joy Knoblauch, Roland May, Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen, Edmund Potter, Enrique Ramirez, Vladimír Å lapeta, Ioanna Theocharopoulou, Pieter Uyttenhove, Anna Vallye, Roberto Zancan The event is free and open to the public. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to Susan Schafer at [email protected] with “Front to Rear” in the subject line. For questions contact: Anna Jozefacka at [email protected] or Susan Schafer at [email protected] Considered by most historians of 20th century architecture as a void between peaceful periods of active architectural production, the Second World War remains an unwritten chapter in most textbooks. It corresponds however to an intense body of experience, which can be observed from Japan to the United States, passing through Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and England. WWII was a key moment in the process of modernization, and manifold issues are raised by the preparation of war, the total mobilization of territories and cities and their eventual occupation, destruction and reconstruction. The conference brings together research investigating a wide range of architectural activities, taking place in diverse geographical locations, and occurring between the bombings of Guernica in 1937 and Hiroshima in 1945. A group of nineteen scholars will present architects’ contributions in the preparation for the war in terms of new forms of infrastructure and management; engagement in development of offensive and defensive tactics; and their assistance in the armed conflict, be it on the front lines, within occupied territories, or on the home front. A number of papers will explore connections between architectural practice and wartime technology and production. Also addressed are wartime preparation for peacetime reconstruction, commemoration and memorial architecture. More information at: http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart/ifa/ArchWW2/index.htm