Working Group

Architecture, Art and Design of Academic Institutions

Chairs

Workshop at Universeum Conference 2026 in Coimbra

In this workshop, we would like to discuss how architecture, art and design shape academic institutions and which role(s) they play as resources for understanding and sharing our heritage. As a follow-up from the workshop of the 2025 Universeum meeting, we will now identify and prioritize key issues for further activities. The aim is also to establish a plan and a strategy for how we can work together in the future.

Some questions for your consideration:

  • What should be included in the term architecture, art and design of academic institutions? Is it possible to make a shared definition for further use?
  • What are the key issues for a network?
  • Which types of expertise and experience can be shared?
  • How do we communicate? Do we need to work within categories, or would general communication be an advantage?
  • The future organisation of the workgroup. How and who?

Organisers: Bjørn Vidar Johansen, University of Oslo, and Matthieu Mensch, University of Strasbourg

See also Conference Website

About

The architecture, art on architecture and the design of academic institutions can play a key role in the understanding of our academic heritage. Purpose-built or accessed, buildings carry numerous contexts or even symbolic meanings. They can be part of a local or national identity. The architecture of academia can contain integrated artworks or be admired as work of art itself. In many cases, architectural heritage is seen as unique assets to their institutions.

However, architecture, commissioned art in and on buildings as well as interiors – whole campuses, even – do also face the danger of neglect or impetuous redesign. Changes in taste as well as in methods of teaching and scientific infrastructure often create a demand for renewal. In the most dramatic cases, this makes way for processes of demolishing or selling buildings. In other cases, historical values are greatly reduced or lost. Also, the meaning of in-house artwork or historical collections can be lost or blurred.

The working group aims to create an awareness about architecture, site specific art and design as a part of academic heritage. We want to discuss and explore how architecture facilitates academic life and how it can be relevant for research, teaching and public outreach. The group should be a place for sharing experiences. One of its main purposes will be to offer support and advice in cases where architecture or art is threatened or at risk. Another is to encourage discussions about how to enhance this form of academic heritage, make it accessible, visible and understandable to all.