The aim of this editorial initiative, promoted by the research project Retranslates1 and the Department of Architecture and Design at the Politecnico di Torino, is to develop a historical and critical investigation into the network of exchanges and mutual influences between the two countries, with a particular – though not exclusive – focus on the period 1975-2006.
The modes of reception of architecture, whether through specialised or general media, play a crucial role in shaping the interpretative narrative of our past. To assess and analyse their significance, the proposed essays will explore the various dissemination channels within the two specific national contexts. These will include institutional networks, publications, exhibitions, architectural competitions and works, as well as international teaching experiences. The goal is to highlight the multiple personal and institutional interconnections, promoting a rich exchange of architectural cultures, design ideas, and professional experiences. In this perspective, the initiative seeks to address issues that have previously been tackled in a sector-specific or monographic manner. This approach is driven by the need to expand research horizons beyond traditional historiographic methods and aims to integrate architecture with other visual arts (plastic, graphic, audiovisual), considering them intrinsic components of the design process.
The research will identify comparative parameters, such as the establishment of networks, historical-critical readings, and programmatic or didactic models, in accordance with each specific context. This will be approached through the analytical lens provided by direct engagement with sources, including both material and intangible culture. For this purpose, a historical narrative will be constructed that is inherently interdisciplinary, aiming to go beyond mere descriptive information, with the intention of destabilizing outdated historiographical clichés rooted in concepts such as “modern movement”, “postmodernism” or “deconstruction.”
The scientific committee of the initiative invites scholars to submit an abstract of up to 3,000 characters (including spaces), providing the following complementary information: Author (First name and Last name, email), Title of the essay, Institutional affiliation, Curriculum vitae (1,000 characters including spaces), with particular mention of any relevant prior experience on the proposed topic.
Please send the documentation to the following email address: espitarch@gmail.com.
The final contributions, with a maximum length of 30,000 characters + 10 images, will be selected through a peer review process and published in their original languages (Italian, Spanish, or English) in a volume co-edited by Campisano (Rome) and Asimétricas (Madrid).
KEY DATES
Abstract submission deadline
May 15, 2025
Abstract evaluation communication
May 30, 2025
Full paper submission deadline
September 30, 2025
Peer review evaluation communication
November 17, 2025
Final submission
January 7, 2026