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Free and open to all, the conference runs overÌýtwo sets of two (short) days;Ìýthe first session is taking place on 12-13 November 2020, and the second on 18-19 February, 2021.

““Parliament buildings and their spatial structures are the symbols and instruments of political life. They shape and reflect political practices,Ìýprocesses and culture, both withinÌýand without.ÌýÌý

We are proud to bring youÌýa brilliant line up of architectsÌýand parliamentarians,Ìýart historians, architecture scholars, historians, geographers, anthropologists and political scientists.ÌýThey will share their unique insights into specific parliament buildings across Europe, to jointly explore:

• How do buildings and spaceÌýstructure the work done in parliaments, how do they shape political decision making and informal communication?
• How can they beÌýused to embody imaginations of democracy and the body politic?
• What can theyÌýtell us about the agency of, say,Ìýwomen or parliamentary staff in parliament?Ìý
• How is their roleÌýchanging in times of constant broadcasting, social media and a global pandemic?Ìý

Organisers:

• Professor Sophia PsarraÌý(The Bartlett)
• Dr Claudia SternbergÌý(UCL European Institute)
• Dr Uta StaiggerÌý(UCL European Institute)
• Ìý(architect and curator)

Click here for the 12-13 November 2020 schedule

Schedule

Thursday 18ÌýFebruary 2021

09:00: Introduction and Welcoming Address by Uta Staiger, Executive Director of UCL European Institute

09:15: Session: A Parliament Shaped by its Buildings: Innovation and Adaptation at Westminster c.1600-1870

• Robin Eagles, History of Parliament
• Kathryn Rix, History of Parliament
• Murray Tremellen and Kirsty Wright, University of York
• Moderator:ÌýAlexandra Meakin, University of Manchester

10:00: Discussion

10:15: Coffee break

10:30: Session: Front Stage and Back Stage Politics

• Kerstin Sailer, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
• François Dufaux, Université Laval
• Moderator:ÌýSophia Psarra, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

11:00: Discussion

11:15: Coffee break

11:45: Session: History and Contemporary PoliticsÌý

• Sam Griffiths, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
• Tommaso Zerbi, University of Edinburgh
• Moderator:ÌýUta Staiger, European Institute, UCL

12:15: Discussion

12:30 - 13:15: Lunch break

13:15 - 14:30: Presentation by Professor Jane Rendell

Friday 19 FebruaryÌý

09:30: Session: Political Transitions, Sovereignty and Scales of Representation

• Tormod Otter Johansen, University of Gothenburg
• Amalia Kotsaki, Technical University of Crete
• Samuel Singler, University of Oxford,ÌýSofia Singler, University of Cambridge
• Moderator:ÌýClaudia Sternberg, European Institute, UCL

10:15: Discussion

10:30: Coffee break

10:45: Session: The Spatial Production of Assemblies andÌýRepresentation

• Harald Trapp, UAC Skopje
• Naomi Gibson and Sophia Psarra, Bartlett School ofÌýArchitecture, UCL
• Gordana Fontana-Giusti, University of Kent
• Moderator:ÌýMarc Geddes, University of Edinburgh

11:30: Discussion

11:45: Coffee break

12:00: Session: Exhibiting Democracies - Religious and Colonial Assemblies

• Ahmadreza Hakiminejad, Coventry University
• Andrew Borg and Michael Zerafa, University of Malta
• Robin Skinner, Victoria University of Wellington
• Moderator:ÌýClaudia Sternberg, European Institute, UCL

12:45: Discussion

13:00 - 14:00: Lunch break

14:00 - 15:00: Presentations and Architects Panel

• Paul Monaghan AHMM
• David Nelson Foster and Partners
• Benedetta Tagliabue, principal at Miralles Tagliabue EMBT
• Ivan Harbour, Rogers, Stirk Harbour + Partners
• Moderator:ÌýJeremy Melvin, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

Image:ÌýThe Parliament Building Footprints and Chambers of the 27 European Union Member States and the United Kingdom. Source: XML (2016) Parliament, XML: Amsterdam.

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The projectÌýisÌýsupported by UCL’s , and co-funded by our Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence grant from the European Commission.