Beyond the PDF: Transdisciplinary Artefacts of Architectural History

About

In accompaniment to this year’s Architectural History MA symposium on the theme ‘unsorted,’ the graduating cohort presents a temporary exhibition titled ‘Beyond the PDF: Transdisciplinary Artefacts of Architectural History Research’.

The exhibition celebrates the myriad physical objects, artifacts, and methodologies that constitute the process of architectural research but are often overlooked within the confines of a 10,000-word piece of writing submitted as a PDF under the requirements of a dissertation.

While dissertation writing benefits from imposed rigor and constraints, it can overlook other facets of historical research situated within a design school. Many students utilise drawing, filmmaking, publishing, and creative writing as tools to study the history of the built environment.

In response to the ‘Unsorted’ theme, objects are presented on the mezzanine walls as an uncategorized assortment of transdisciplinary artifacts representing a year of deep study and critical reflection. The graduating cohort offers a view of the Architectural History MA as a space where the formatted dissertation is one of many stories.

Displayed alongside these works is a collection of publications from this year’s Site Writing module. Architectural History MA students collaborated with Situated Practice MA and Architecture & Historic Urban Environments MA to produce critically reflective writing in the form of artist books. These pieces demonstrate the physicality and creativity possible in research. Each publication responds to a specific site and question chosen by the author acting as artist, researcher, and bookmaker.

This event is organised by Architectural History MA students Vaishnavi Gondane, Eliot Haworth, Sara Mahmud, and Tian Wang. 

This event is open to all. No booking required.

More information

• Architectural History MA 'Unsorted' Symposium 2023
• Find out about studying Architectural History MA 
• Find out about studying Situated Practice MA
• Find out about studying Architecture & Historic Urban Environments MA 

Image: “Beyond the PDF” forms part of the 2022-2023 Architectural History MA Symposium and Exhibition and is a reflection on transdisciplinary methodologies and perspectives within the practice of Architectural History. Above is an illustration of the exhibition space created by Sara Mahmud and Vaishnavi Gondane.