Architectures of Alterity

Project overview

The Architectures of Alterity Community aim to establish and further expand an interdisciplinary research network for studying historical and contemporary architectures of alterity, or how architectural design may confirm and defy social and cultural orders, and support more diverse and inclusive forms of dwelling.

Community lead

Cardiff University: Dimitra Ntzani (PI), Nick Mols
University of Exeter: Yue Zhang

UWE: Sophia Banou

Awarded

May 2023

Project Summary

The community used the Development Award to hold a symposium (Architectures of Alterity: Body/Media/Space 2023), set up an online presence and fund follow up activities for their emerging community. The 2-day symposium in September 2023 facilitated the exchange and production of critical knowledge on bodies, media, and spaces as othering devices. It used a series of talks and roundtable discussions to allow scholars from GW4 and beyond to explore alterity from different disciplinary perspectives and share theoretical and methodological frameworks. The community produced podcasts and audio recordings of all presentations which can be found at their Youtube playlist. They have also produced an online repository that gathers and disseminates relevant academic content and projects around various themes of alterity.

The community also organised a workshop at Cardiff Council Rights Fest, called “My City, My Selfie and I”, and organised keynote lectures and a design workshop during Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024. The community are continuing to work on joint research collaborations and external grant ideas.

Helpful Links Community Website Youtube playlist of talks from Architectures of Alterity: Body/Media/Space 2023