Program Overview

PhD Methodology Seminar

The PhD Methodology Seminar is a research-focused event that invites doctoral students in architecture to explore how to document and analyze the lesser-recorded phases of the act of building, particularly those that unfold on the construction site.

Introduction

This methodological seminar aims to open a discussion on research methodologies suited to the study of construction-in-action. It will draw on recent developments in visual anthropology and photography theory to address how photography can be mobilized as a documentation technique and historical source in architectural research.

Programme

• 11:00–12:00: Lecture by Sarah Melsens on "Construction photography: potentialities, histories, and counterhistories"
• 12:00–13:00: Lunch break with all participants
• 13:00–16:00: Methodology seminar with participants' own research questions and photos

Details

• Date: 10 February 2026
• Time: 11:00–16:00
• Location: Room FL.3.1, Bruxelles, Site Flagey
• Organization: Filière Cultures Constructives, ULB Faculté d'Architecture La Cambre Horta

Research Areas

The seminar will focus on the use of photography as a research methodology in architectural research, particularly in the context of construction sites. It will explore how photography can capture the processes, improvisations, negotiations, and material contingencies that shape the built environment.

Target Audience

The seminar is intended for doctoral students in architecture who are interested in exploring innovative research methodologies and techniques for documenting and analyzing construction sites.