OPEN CALL | LANDSCAPES OF REPAIR: THE ROLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM IN DOCUMENTING THE LEGACY OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND PUBLIC SPACES.

Fourth thematic cycle "Landscapes of Repair". Guest Editor: Félix Solaguren. Editors: Cristina Gaston Guirão, Jaime Ferrer, LLuís Angel Domínguez, Maria Neto, Andrea Parga. Editorial Collaborator:Judit Taberna Torres

Abstract deadline: 31 December 2024
Deadline for 1st manuscript: 11 March 2025

Publication date (tbc): by December 2025

Sophia Journal is currently accepting submissions for its fourth thematic cycle “Landscapes of Repair”, encouraging a humanist approach to urban transformation that transcends purely economic considerations. By exploring the impactful realms of photography, film, and various visual practices, we aim to highlight their significant contributions to the discourse surrounding architectural programs. Our goal is to draw urgent attention to the necessity of repairing our fractured planet. In doing so, we also seek to address and connect the multitude of challenges that contemporary cities and territories around the world are grappling with. These visual mediums not only document but also critically engage with the diverse and complex issues of our time, offering a unique perspective on urban and environmental crises. Through this lens, we hope to foster a deeper understanding and inspire actionable solutions to the pressing problems facing our global communities.

Call for Submissions – The Role of Photography and Film in Documenting the Legacy of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Spaces

In this call for papers and visual essays of Sophia Journal Vol.10 No. 1 “Landscapes of Repair: The Role of Photography and Film in Documenting the Legacy of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Spaces”, – we invite theoretical and field work using photographic and visual practices to explore and document both Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Space infrastructure. The call aims to understand and document architecture, building, city and territory as living and inclusive organisms, focused on recent past and present positive experiences that have shaped the quality of urban space, as well as on heritage resources for global sustainability.

All this means, on the one hand, to comprehend the relationship between culture and space, within the context of Modern Architecture heritage preservation, as it belongs to a recent past that has not yet been sufficiently recognised by the authorities, scholars and general public. On the other hand, to explore how culture, beliefs, behaviours, and practices, interact with and shape the physical environment of different territories and their architectures, cities and landscapes, as well as to acknowledge contemporary discourses and usages of landscape concepts.

Our objectives are to explore the ways in which photography and film can be used as meaningful instruments of research into the socioeconomic, political, historical, technical and ecological dimensions of both modern and contemporary architecture and public spaces infrastructure for our cities and territories. This means, on the one hand, a more encompassing photography documentary research and practice able to integrate the diverse modes which can be found in many documentary projects, as referred by Marion Gautreau and Jean Kempf[1]: (i) scientific, or conversely, ideological reference; (ii) artistic form as an access to the complexities of the real world; (iii) the documentary as enabling an affirmation of identity or the retrieval of memory.

On the other hand, integrating into the research material processes[2] where photography is explored as a significant inquiry tool for critical and innovative views on architecture and urban transformation in their expanded fields and contextualized by larger systems: cultural, political, artistic, technical, and historical dimensions. This entails, innovative documentation or archival projects exploring discursive forms of presentation and visual constructs, articles and research papers discussing the rich spectrum of techniques and visual strategies employed in environmental discussions.

As a result, we are very much interested in the research focused on exploring how visual constructs, namely photography and film, may set forward the idea of an architecture, changing our on-site perception and even turning it into a projected vision in space, as well as identifying, recording and ‘unlocking’ sites of transformation – i.e. buildings and places which are undergoing, or will undergo, a process of renewal. Another example of our interests is the diachronic studies of urban environments focused on patterns of activities and phenomena aiming at sequentially researching social change, and physical and cultural expressions that may occur during different time lapses[3].

The overall concern is to study and give visibility to photography and film practices comprehending architecture outside the dominant narratives and to call attention to both Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Spaces. Namely to investigate the ways in which photography and film serve as meaningful instruments of research into the socioeconomic, political, historical, technical and ecological dimensions of Architecture and Landscape.

Some issues of interest that can be taken on board when answering this call are the following:

Reports on buildings, public spaces and infrastructure under construction.

The image of a building under construction is a powerful stimulus for the imagination of any observer. It reports on intermediate equilibrium states, transitory in the life of the building, only noticeable for a short period of time, essential to achieve the final form.
A building can manifest an achievement of high aesthetic value, unforeseen by the architect himself, when it has not yet reached its functional phase. A deeper understanding of buildings is obtained by revealing the hidden structures that underpin its visible form, sometimes challenging the logic of appearance.

Documentation and Preservation Techniques:

Methods and techniques for documenting contemporary as well as modern architecture and public spaces, focusing on their preservation as part of our cultural and architectural heritage."
Innovative approaches in photography and film that highlight the nuances and details of modern architectural elements, particularly those that are under-recognized or at risk of deterioration.

Intersections of Culture, Architecture, and Public Space:

Exploration of how cultural practices, beliefs, and behaviors influence the design, use, and perception of contemporary as well as modern architecture and public spaces.
Studies on the interaction between contemporary as well as modern architectural forms and the diverse cultural contexts in which they exist, particularly in rapidly urbanizing or changing territories.

Impact of Urban Transformation on Public Spaces:

Case studies on how urban renewal and transformation projects impact existing public spaces and the communities that use them.
Investigations into the role of public spaces in fostering social cohesion, community identity, and cultural continuity in urban environments.

Environmental and Ecological Dimensions:

Research on the environmental sustainability of contemporary as well as modern architecture and public spaces, including discussions on adaptive reuse, green infrastructure, and ecological design practices.
Analysis of how photography and film can raise awareness about the ecological impacts of architectural and urban development.

Historical Contexts and Future Projections:

Diachronic studies of modern architecture and public spaces, examining their evolution over time and their role in shaping urban histories.
Speculative and visionary works that project the future of public spaces and architecture in response to current global challenges such as climate change, migration, and social inequality.

Social and Political Dimensions:

Critical analysis of the social and political implications of architecture and public spaces, particularly in terms of accessibility, inclusivity, and the representation of marginalized communities.
Exploration of how public spaces and architectural heritage can be leveraged to address social justice issues and promote equitable urban development.

Innovative Uses of Visual Media:

Studies on the role of visual media (photography, film, digital arts) in reimagining and communicating the value of contemporary as well as modern architecture and public spaces.
Investigations into how contemporary visual practices can challenge or complement traditional narratives about architectural heritage and urban transformation.

Memory and Identity in Public Spaces:

Research on how contemporary as well as modern architecture and public spaces serve as sites of memory and identity, particularly in post-industrial, post-colonial, or post-conflict contexts.
Visual explorations of how public spaces can act as repositories of collective memory and how they can be preserved or adapted to reflect changing social dynamics.

Public Space as a Site of Resistance and Change:

Examination of public spaces as arenas for social and political resistance, exploring how they have been used historically and in contemporary movements.
Analysis of the potential of modern architecture and public spaces to act as catalysts for social change, whether through design, occupation, or cultural expression.

Architectural Aesthetics and Public Perception:

Exploration of how the aesthetics of contemporary as well as modern architecture influence public perception and usage of public spaces.
Studies on the role of visual media in shaping public opinion about the value and significance of architectural forms.

Submission instructions

To submit your abstract proposal, please send a 500-word text (including references and a maximum of five images) and a short bio for each author (up to 70 words each) by the 31st of December, 2024.

Submission of abstracts is done through our OJS platform by registering and submitting at: https://www.up.pt/revistas/index.php/sophia/index

Selected authors will be notified by the 11 of January 2025 and will benefit from Sophia´s Editorial orientation and instructions in order to deliver a full paper (between 3000 to 6000 words) or a visual essay (length between 6 to 8 pages, plus text between 750 to 1500 words) by the 11 of March 2025.

Authors who have not sent in this first stage their abstract can still send the full manuscript until the 11 of March 2025.

Please note that all theoretical papers will be subject to blind peer review. The other modalities of submissions we publish (visual essays, interviews, and critical reviews) are subjected to peer review.

Acceptance of an abstract in any of these modalities does not guarantee publication.

Sophia Journal International Conference

Sophia Journal International conference “Landscapes of Repair: The Role of Photography and Film in Documenting the Legacy of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Spaces” will take place at ETSAB - Barcelona School of Architecture - UPC, continuing the successful annual cycle of international forums dedicated to the critical exploration of the intersections between image and architecture.

The conference emerges as a dynamic platform for addressing descriptive, analytical, and interpretative projects that offer a unique perception and new knowledge about the role of Photography and Film in Documenting the legacy of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Spaces.

Abstracts for conference presentation will be published in the e-book of abstracts, which will have also the program and will be accessible and free to download through Sophia Journal OJS platform at the time of the event.

Subsequent publication of the most relevant (expanded – full manuscripts) contributions will be published in Sophia Journal - Volume 10, No. 1 - Landscapes of Repair: The Role of Photography and Film in Documenting the Legacy of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Public Spaces

The international conferences enhance our global outreach and foster deeper international collaboration and are closely aligned with Sophia's peer-reviewed publication. Sophia supports and disseminates scientific research by publishing theoretical articles and visual essays that critically explore the intersections between image and architecture.