latour for architects
latour for architects
lecture + seminar
Albena Yaneva
Oct 20, 2023, 3 pm
In class + Online
Polittico Research Lab is pleased to present the lecture by Albena Yaneva, professor of architecture at the University of Manchester and currently visiting professor at Columbia University GSAPP
Seminar for students Friday, Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Public Lecture Friday, Oct. 20, 3 p.m., Polo Porta Nuova, Room PN9 + teams
Curated by Lina Malfona, with Lucia Giorgetti, Giovanni Santi, Michele Di Sivo
Professor Yaneva will talk about two of her recent books, "Latour for Architects" and "The New Architecture of Science," illustrating how she uses the methodology of French anthropologist Bruno Latour to study the architecture of research labs.
The New Architecture of Science explores how the architecture of advanced nanoscience buildings affects the way scientists think, conduct experiments, interact and collaborate. The design of the National Graphene Institute building in Manchester, UK sheds light on the architecture of the new generation of scientific buildings. Weaving together two tales of this building, lead scientist Kostya Novoselov and architectural anthropologist Albena Yaneva combine an analysis of the distinctive design features with ethnographic observation of how scientists, building managers, industry people, lab technicians, administrators and house service staff use the building. Capturing simultaneously the complex technical infrastructure of this science lab and the variability of human experiences that it facilitates, contemporary laboratory buildings are shown to be vital settings for the active shaping of new research habits and ways of thinking, ultimately leading to discovery and socio-technical innovations.
The lecture will appeal to the academic faculty from different disciplines and to students from architecture, design and urban studies, science and technology studies, and science communication programmes.
