Children Matter

Children have long fascinated architects, designers, and urban planners within a broadermaterial culture that revolves around the social construction of a happy and protectedchildhood. The twentieth century—or the “Century of the Child” as propagated by Swedish pedagogue Ellen Key—saw the rise of architectural design for children across various national contexts. These designs, along with developments in pedagogy and hygiene, have been documented in catalogues, manuals, guidelines, exhibitions, and special planning issues, and have more recently become subjects of historical inquiry.

However, historians of childhood distinguish between the “history of childhood,” one written by adults, and the “histories of children,” which refer to childhood as it was actuallyexperienced by children. In this respect, children—despite their visibility in architectural design and discourse—remain largely unaddressed in the historical analysis of architecture, having been portrayed within a domestic, feminine sphere that is stereotypically seen as less important. Children have been among the last neglected groups to attract the attention of historians, following in the footsteps of previously marginalized histories including those of women, the working classes, and ethnic minorities.

Children Matter examines both thematically and methodologically the role of children and childhood in the built environment. Adopting a thematic approach that seeks to move beyond traditional conventions of history such as authorship and chronology, we explore how architectural historiography engages with children as subjects of analysis and legitimate social actors. We endeavor to answer questions such as the following: How has the body of the child been inscribed in built culture? How has children’s play informed architecture? How have children shaped the built environment? How have children’s perspectives informed architectural history? Can children write architectural history?

By centering children, we aim to open up new dialogues and approaches to architectural history that prioritize children’s experiences, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and address a range of emerging issues across diverse geographic regions and relevant fields. The study of children in the built environment not only enriches architectural discourse but also contributes to broader societal debates on care, welfare, and vulnerability. In doing so, it responds to contemporary concerns about child wellbeing and invites us to rethink how we perceive, historicize, and envision the spaces of childhood.

Recent Activities:

Book Presentation “Another Modernism: Home Economics and the Design of Domestic Space in the US, 1900-1960”