Conference: The Identity of Architecture

What determines the identity of architecture? This question is addresses the self-understanding of the discipline and will be discussed at an international, interdisciplinary scientific conference on June 23 and 24 at RWTH Aachen University. Inviting a stock-taking, the Identität der Architektur (de) conference seeks to question and explore the current state of the discipline, addressing foundations, techniques, principles, methods, concepts, references, and ideas that have an impact on the design and construction of architecture and the city.

The conference aims to provide impetus for the “inner” characterization of the discipline. The conference contributions will be made available in a publication to support practice, teaching, and research, exploring and illustrating the unique complexity of the profession. The fifth Aachen conference, taking place in the foyer of the Reiff Museum, will have a focus on space as one of the essential foundations of architecture.

In close coordination with a scientific committee, the Department of Spatial Design headed by Professor Uwe Schröder and the Chair of Structural Design led by Professor Hartwig Schneider have selected 32 offices featuring different positions on the topic of space, which will be discussed with reference to existing buildings.