Cities Methodologies 2014: Buildings on fire: Towards a new approach to urban memory

Curated by Stamatis Zografos and Elena Papadaki, this event and installation will examine different ways that fire can act as a methodology to access and explore memory in architecture. 

Considering that fire is an imminent threat to architectural memory, what is its impact on building heritage? Can this element be understood as a methodology to reconceptualise heritage and sustainability? Given that fire is commonly used as a tool to (re)claim civil rights, can it also be perceived as a methodology to rethink citizenship?

Installations will be exhibited in the Slade Research Centre from Monday 28 April to Friday 2 May. Exhibitors include Aris Prodromidis (Aristotle University, Greece), Cláudia Palma Romão (Central Saint Martins), Edwina Attlee (London Consortium), Elena Papadaki, Eleanor Dare (University of Derby), Eva Bachmann, Jack Wates, Meropi Zavlari (University of Thessaly, Greece), Robin Morrison, Rocio Ayllon, Stamatis Zografos, Sotiris Varsamis and Riccardo Vincentini.

The programme for the event on Wednesday 30 April:

Stamatis Zografos is a London-based architect and has a PhD in Cultural Studies from Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the founder of Incandescent Square, a collaborative meeting point for research and design. Elena Papadaki is a Paris-based art historian and cultural theorist. Her doctoral research has examined the curation of screen-based works in multiple environments.

Cities Methodologies is an ongoing programme of events and exhibitions dedicated to presenting, sharing and experimenting with new methods of urban research. You can see the other events lined up for the week here.

Image credit: 'Buildings on Fire', Stamatis Zografos