J. Irwin Miller Symposium

This symposium, convened by Peggy Deamer, will explore areas that affect the construction of architecture’s discipline and profession—the academy, history/theory, practice, and media/representation—in order to structurally rethink and rebuild architecture. With the aim of shifting the basic tenets that prevent architecture from being socially relevant, politically powerful, financially rewarding, and personally fulfilling, each session will explore various methods of restructuring the discipline. Which new models of architectural education can change both architecture's economic viability and conceptual relevance? What alternative narratives can provide foundations for a redefinition of architecture? What new models of practice do we have that either move beyond client-driven work or make more of that work than neoliberal fulfillment? How can architecture be presented to the public and to the profession in a way that moves beyond form, fame, and social irresponsibility? Speakers—theorists, practitioners, journalists, and historians—of both American and European backgrounds will analyze and debate our current and hoped-for architectural future.

Thursday, January 25
Keynote address, 6:30 p.m.

Sonia Schimberg Honorary Lecture
Jane Rendell, University College London
"Home/Work Displacements"

Friday, January 26
Morning session, 10:00 a.m.
Academia: New Models that Change the Economic Equation and Conceptual Relevance of Architecture Education

Jeremy Till, Central Saint Martins and the University of the Arts London
"Education Otherwise"

Will Hunter, London School of Architecture
"The School as Start-Up"

Jonathan Massey, University of Michigan
"Building the Discipline We Deserve"

Hildigunnur Sverrisdottir, Yale University
"The Master, the Clinic, the Soil"

Keller Easterling, Yale University
Moderator

Afternoon session, 2:00 p.m.
History/Theory: Alternative Narratives that Provide Foundations for a Redefinition of Architecture

Tahl Kaminer, University of Edinburgh
"In Defense of Spatial Planning"

Douglas Spencer, Architectural Association
"Architecture and the Other Scene: Infrastructure and Superstructure in Theory"

Joan Ockman, University of Pennsylvania
"The Role of Architectural History as We Plunge Headlong into the Future"

Pier Vittorio Aureli, Yale University
"How We Became Architects: Labor, Building, and the Invention of the Architectural Project"

Manuel Shvartzberg Carrió, Columbia University
Moderator

Keynote address, 6:30 p.m.

Eyal Weizman, Goldsmiths, University of London
Ines Weizman, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
"Documentary Architecture"

Saturday, January 27

Morning session, 9:00 a.m.
Practice I: New Models that Move Beyond Client-Driven Work or that Make Work More than Neoliberal Satisfaction

Indy Johar, Project 00
"An Architecture for Outcomes: From Medium to Systems"

Reinier de Graaf, OMA
"Four Walls and a Roof"

Phil Bernstein, Yale University
"Commodity Exchange | Outcome Delivery"

Anna Dyson, Yale University

Pierce Reynoldson, Yale University
Moderator

Morning session, 11:00 a.m.
Practice II: New Models that Move Beyond Client-Driven Work or that Make Work More than Neoliberal Satisfaction

Chris Stewart, Collective Architecture
"Morality, Decency and Good Manners"

Anthony Engi Meacock and Giles Smith, Assemble Studio
"Amateur Hour"

Andrés Jaque, Office for Political Innovation
"Transmaterial Politics"

Katherine Darnstadt, Latent Design

Eva Franch i Gilabert, The Cooper Union and Storefront for Art and Architecture
Moderator

Afternoon session, 2:00 p.m.
Media/Journalism/Representation: Architectural Representation that Focuses Beyond Form, Fame, and Social Irrelevance

Eva Hagberg Fisher, Writer
"In Defense of Fame"

Nancy Levinson, Places Journal
"Architecture and Alternative Facts"

Michael Kimmelman, New York Times
"The Challenge of a Larger Public"

Cathleen McGuigan, Architectural Record
"The Ideal and Real Role of Architectural Journalism in Shaping the Profession"

Ian Volner, Writer
Moderator

This symposium is supported by the J. Irwin Miller Endowment Fund.

Although there is no charge for attendance, reservations are required prior to January 19, 2018. 

The Yale School of Architecture is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. Credit earned by attending this symposium will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request. 

Hastings Hall is equipped with assistive hearing devices for guests using hearing aids that have a “T” coil.