Call for Papers – Architectural and Design Crossovers Between Modern Italy and Britain (ASMI Annual Conference 2027)

The Association for the Study of Modern Italy (ASMI) is pleased to invite proposals for its forthcoming Annual Conference, which will take place on 29–30 January 2027 at the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (ILCS), Senate House, University of London.

The theme of the conference is “Architectural and Design Crossovers Between Modern Italy and Britain”. The conference explores architectural and design exchanges between Modern Italy and Britain from the mid-eighteenth century to the present, and welcomes papers examining the circulation of ideas, people, practices and objects across the two countries, as well as their intersections with politics, society, gender, ethnicity and identity.

Possible themes include, but are not limited to: travel, influence and cultural exchange; architecture and design in imperial and colonial contexts; urbanism, housing and consumer culture; exhibitions, trade fairs and world expositions; professional networks, education and architectural media; post-war design, modernism and postmodernism; and contemporary transnational perspectives on architecture and design.

The confirmed keynote speaker is Professor Grace Lees-Maffei (University of Hertfordshire).

Papers may be presented in English or Italian. Please send a 300-word abstract, together with a short biography, to asmi.conference.2027@gmail.com by 15 September 2026.

Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 15 October 2026. Further information is available in the attached Call for Papers.