First published in 2015, the bfo-journal is a yearly, multilingual,  peer-reviewed open access journal hosted on bauforschungonline.ch. For  our third thematic issue we are inviting paper proposals which address  the question of hybridisation in relation to the study of architectural  ornament in a global context, from antiquity until the present day, and  understood both as the encounter of varied cultural traditions and the  tensions or negotiations it can engender. We are interested in  contributions that examine the hybridity of architectural ornament,  either with regards to specific case studies or considerations of  historiography. 

Out of favour for most of the twentieth century, the question of  ornament is once again at the centre of ever-multiplying studies in  architecture, art, philosophy and history. A complex phenomenon at the  interface between several disciplinary fields, in which formal and  symbolic questions are considered from anthropological, economic and  social perspectives, the notion of ornament comprises a vast cultural  history. During the 19th century, with the advent of historiography and  museology, and through the effort to find coherence between various  artistic fields, its history as elaborated in the encyclopedic oeuvres  of Owen Jones or Auguste Racinet insisted on highlighting differences  rather than areas of convergence. Conversely, more recent  historiography has attempted to address the importance of migrations,  exchanges and intercultural dialogues from an increasingly global  perspective (Frommel 2014, Necipo?lu/Payne 2016).

A privileged vehicle of artistic and cultural hybridisation, situated  in the nexus of tensions between local and external traditions, the  ornament absorbs and transforms distinct languages and may be  considered as generator of such processes of exchange, dialogue and  acculturation. In this edition of bfo-journal we wish to highlight gaps  and fissures in the history of styles and moments that emphasise the  collapse of cultural boundaries, as well as the encounter of local and  global traditions.

The editorial board seeks contributions that examine the question of  cultural and artistic hybridisation in relation to architectural  ornament, considered from formal, material and technical points of  view. Papers might address the analysis of relevant architectural case  studies in their particular historical contexts, considering,  especially, instances of hybridisation between decorative language and  construction typology, or their manifestation in specific elements  (capitals, arches etc.). Alternatively, papers might reflect on  historiographical questions, examining the reactions that such hybrid  forms have provoked at different times. How has the notion of  hybridisation been perceived and integrated in the architectural  discourse and history of ornament? Can it be used to clarify problems  of terminology, or adduce new interpretative devices to a growing  global history of art? Is the notion of the ornament’s cultural and  stylistic hybridity still relevant in a post-modern society, where  cultural references become increasingly muted?

We seek abstracts for proposals in English, German, French and Italian,  of up to 500 words. Upon their acceptance, the final papers should be  no longer than 30’000 characters (including spaces and footnotes). They  must be accompanied by maximum 10 illustrations, an abstract of 800  characters (including spaces), and a short biography of no more than  500 signs (including spaces).

Proposals may be sent to the editors by March 1st, 2017 at  journal at bauforschungonline.ch. For more information about bfo-Journal  und further submission guidelines, please visit  www.bauforschungonline.ch

Dates:

• 1 March: deadline for the reception of the abstracts
• 15 March: notice of acceptance 
• 1 June: deadline for finished papers for peer review
• 15 July: notice of peer reviewer comments and required revisions 
• 1 September: final deadline for revised papers