Historical and Cultural Studies

This cluster is led by Dr John Bold, and covers a diverse range of research which is based on looking at different aspects of architectural history and cultural identity in Britain and other countries around the world. Like many other architectural scholars around the globe, the staff members operating in the Historical and Cultural Studies group are trying to merge the benefits of traditional methods of architectural history with the newer approaches offered by cultural studies, including theories of post-colonialism, cultural identity, gender analysis, etc.

The work of the Historical and Cultural Studies cluster has led directly to establishing the design-based MA Architecture, Cultural Identity & Globalisation, the first course of its kind in the world, as well as the MA London Architecture, a unique course which looks at the architectural history of the host city. Other innovative work is being carried out by HCS staff in various fields in the architectural humanities, helping in turn to bring in more PhD students. Dr Davide Deriu was recently appointed as the first Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the HCS group. The cluster actively promotes the subject in general, being closely involved in creating the Architectural Humanities Research Association and indeed hosting that organisations inaugural research symposium in May 2004.

In the wider sphere, all of the staff members in the Historical and Cultural Studies cluster regularly lecture and give conference papers in Britain and abroad. Through his expertise in archaeology and conservation on the MA London Architecture, Dr John Bold is currently engaged as an expert adviser by the European Commission and Council of Europe in the restitution of war-torn Eastern European states like Kosovo, as well as on framing cultural policies to preserve the architectural heritage of former Soviet Bloc countries in that region.

Staff active in the HCS research cluster:

Further information

For further information on the Historical and Cultural Studies research cluster, contact Dr John Bold on j.a.bold@westminster.ac.uk.