Sensory Decay online symposium

Amsterdam , Netherlands

Papers of 20 minutes are sought for the upcoming Sensory Decay online symposium, held on November 3rd, 2023. Details available at www.uva.nl/sensory-decay

Sensory Decay Symposium  November 3rd

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS by September 4th


How do we approach the sensory decay of our buildings and landscapes? What are the opportunities of sensory-based methods?

Sensing decay in and of any constructed environment is a multi-sensory experience. The stages of decay can be transitory and ever-changing. The sensory complexity of decay may be added to or confused by concurrent processes of remaking, rebuilding, and renewal. This symposium aims to consider how we can isolate and record the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of decay within the continuum of deterioration. In tandem, we seek to recognize how particular sensory aspects of decay may prompt cultural responses and actions – this could include the aestheticization of architectural ruins or the conservation choices of deteriorated material, for instance. Our senses also provide tools to analyze the presence of decay and its temporal stages, for example, in material heritage conservation or the acoustic properties of a space. A particular methodological challenge is how we, as sensory analysts across disciplines, can record our own often numerous but fast decaying experiences as avenues to questioning and interpreting the past, such as in experimental archaeology.
to approach these ideas, the following sessions are proposed:

Papers of 20 minutes are sought across the above four themes for an online symposium held on November 3rd, 2023. We seek contributions from researchers and practitioners at all levels who consider applied approaches to these and similar challenges in the built environment, including architects and design professionals, historians, conservators, preservationists, and archaeologists alike. Projects at early and exploratory stages of development are also welcome. If you would like more details on each session topic and to submit a proposal, please visit www.uva.nl/sensory-decay. Abstracts of 400 words are requested by September 4th, 2023.

Inquires are welcome at: sensory [dot] workshop-fgw [at] uva [dot] nl

From the ‘Sensing the Past’ Research Group (University of Amsterdam), organized by Pamela Jordan and Sara Mura.

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SAH thanks The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
for its operating support.
Society of Architectural Historians
1365 N. Astor Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312.573.1365