Colin Rowe Lecture on Architecture & Photography

Discussion on the role of the image in architecture.

In an informal setting and in dialogue with experienced and imaginative guests, The Colin Rowe Lectures aim to discuss the role of the image in architecture, particularly the crucial role of architectural photography. Following the success of Richard Pare’s inaugural lecture in November 2016, the panel has selected from the ‘emerging scholars / practitioners’ entries two apparently diverging proposals, both focusing on the role played by people - or their absence - in architectural imagery. In their joint paper two scholars, Angelo Maggi (Venice) and Davide Deriu (London) will talk about the critical role played by people in images - workers, passers-by and staged characters - whilst the photographer and architect Philipp Schaerer (Zurich) will reflect on the way in which technology allows us to supersede reality - what do we perceive when looking at images that do not represent anything ‘real’? Whatever the image is representing, it works in the space of our imagination and that is the territory which the lecture aims to explore.

The lecture will consist of the two presentations followed by a round table with the conveners, a Q&A session with the public and finally the opportunity to continue the conversation informally with a glass of wine. The aim is to generate a lively debate on the current ‘state of the art’ of the architectural image. The lectures are considered as an open forum of discussion for architects, photographers, students and the simply curious. All are welcome.

Forum convened by Marco Iuliano (University of Liverpool) and Valeria Carullo (RIBA).

The lectures are a collaboration between the Centre for Architecture and Visual Arts at the University of Liverpool and the Robert Elwall Photographs Collection at the RIBA.

Speakers: Davide Deriu, Angelo Maggi, Philipp Schaerer, Marco Iuliano, Valeria Carullo