ICM Spring 2022 New Books Series
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 4:45-6:15 p.m.
Goldwin Smith, G22
Esra Akcan, Abolish Human Bans: Intertwined Histories of Architecture
With an introduction by Iftikhar Dadi, resident director of ICM
Followed by remarks by Andrew Scheinman, editor at Candian Centre for Architecture (CCA)
The final part of Esra Akcan's presentation is not available for viewing at the speaker's request, as it comprises preliminary, unpublished research.
Cornell AAP faculty member Esra Akcan speaks about her recently published book, Abolish Human Bans: Intertwined Histories of Architecture (CCA 2022). Published as part of the CCA Singles series,
Esra Akcan builds on her theory of architectural translation to
construct an activist gesture—through the lens of architectural
history—against the anti-immigration policies of ruling powers. To
contest the alleged inaccessibility of seven countries specifically
vilified by the United States government, Akcan explores case studies
from Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Iran, and Yemen, tracing some
of the transportations and transformations of architecture in each. The
projects in this book demonstrate that modern architectural histories
are global and intertwined, and frame questions as to whether architects
can commit their ethical and political compasses to peace rather than
to dominant geopolitical regimes.
Esra Akcan is Michael
A. McCarthy Professor of Architectural Theory, Department of
Architecture. Akcan's research on modern and contemporary architecture
and urbanism foregrounds the intertwined histories of Europe and West
Asia and offers new ways to understand architecture's role in global,
social, and environmental justice.