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The following via the Centre for the Study of the Domestic Interior (so apologies for any cross-postings). Rupert ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'Architecture and Furniture: Negotiating Objects in Space' Session at the Society of Architectural Historians Annual Meeting Providence, Rhode Island 14-18 April 2004 In many architectural contexts, from the baroque gesamtkunstwerk to the modernist environment, the relationship between a building and its furnishings is considered an integral one. At the same time, the decoration of interiors is often undertaken by patrons or designers with no concern for, or even in opposition to, a comprehensive architectural vision. Yet the friction between container and contents remains a neglected subject, even as recent scholarship challenges architectural history's traditional privileging of monumental form and the relegation of decorative art and design to the realm of connoisseurship. This session explores the interplay of architecture and furniture on two levels: as a historical phenomenon that operates differently in different artistic and cultural contexts, and as an interpretive problem that demands more innovative methodologies. Speakers are invited to discuss specific examples, from any place and period, that illuminate the ways in which architects, theorists, designers, patrons, or consumers have approached the project of creating or inhabiting furnished spaces. Papers that explore new approaches to analyzing the formal dynamics and cultural meanings of objects in space are especially encouraged. Topics might include: furnishing systems that extend, complicate, or subvert architectural conceptions; conflicts between clients and architects over furnishing schemes; redecoration or do-it-yourself projects that redefine their architectural frameworks; theoretical debates or professional practices that shape conceptions of architecture and interior design; the uses of new technologies for representing the physical and social workings of furnished space; the potential and limitations of specific interpretive tactics. Speakers might even question the usefulness of the distinction between architecture and furniture, and propose new ways of studying designed form that move beyond these categories and their implicit assumptions. Send abstracts (300 words maximum) with résumé & contact information to: Mimi Hellman, Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Art, Smith College Northampton, MA 01063 U.S.A. fax: 413.585.3119 email: [log in to unmask] SAH website: www.sah.org DEADLINE: 1 September 2003 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rupert Shepherd 69 Middleton Road, Banbury, Oxon. OX16 3QR, UK Tel./Fax: +44-(0)1295 270344. Mobile: +44-(0)7941 187904. Email: [log in to unmask] http://www.ferrara.u-net.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~