About the Journal

Architecture has many facets, as does the study of it. Architectural theory, architectural design and architectural history approach the common theme from very different angles, have developed a wide range of methods and are interested in a variety of historical and current topics. The diversity of these approaches is reflected all too clearly in the spectrum of architectural journals: each specialises in a particular area, dealing with topics related to design practice, following the theoretical and social discussion of architecture or viewing architecture as a historical phenomenon from a humanities perspective.

In 2007, we, a group of architects and art and architectural historians from across the German-speaking world, set ourselves the goal of providing a medium that would combine these points of view with the aim of mutual enrichment and a general broadening of horizons. The architectural discourse thus acquires a forum in which an exchange can take place at an interdisciplinary and cross-methodological level.

We understand architecture as a comprehensive cultural phenomenon that needs to be grasped in its entirety. Typology and utilisation, media presence and social functions, motifs, history and interpretation, artistic character and symbolism, construction and materiality are categories of the architectural that represent a common approach for all participating disciplines. Furthermore, the examination of architectural history and tradition up to the present day has a direct significance for cultural self-understanding. Particularly in the modern era, programmatic architects, schools of architecture from Expressionism to Bauhaus, national movements and ideologies, democracy and social institutions have always defined and visualised the significance of building and their respective new approaches in connection with or against the history of architecture. archimaera sees itself as a medium that examines modern trends in architecture in the context of well-founded cultural and architectural analysis, rather than simply with hastily compiled reference images.

Publishing with archimaera

archimaera is an online journal that enables a view beyond the boundaries of the respective disciplines, identifies intersections and promotes exchange between practice, history, theory and reflection. The aim is to examine architectural topics from different perspectives in an interdisciplinary dialogue, thus gaining a deeper understanding and mutual impulses for research topics as well as for the artistic and design activities of architects. Scientific analysis, designs, drawings and other artistic works are given equal status as means of expression in a creative, historical and philosophical architectural discourse. Their synopsis means a gain in knowledge for each participating discipline.

archimaera is an diamond open access journal and is dedicated to a specific topic, which allows a superordinate approach to the present and history of building from a cultural perspective as well as from the practice of constructive and design-related discussions on architecture. An editorial introduces the topic of each issue and forms the prelude to an editorially completed main section, in which a wide range of perspectives on the topic are opened up in scientific and artistic contributions. These contributions are collected under the common umbrella topic without restriction to a particular historical epoch or a particular methodological approach, but under the requirement of facing the interdisciplinary perspective that the framework topic prescribes. In this way, archimaera functions as a platform for exchange between the disciplines, between scientists and practitioners, between younger and established architects, authors. The editorial moderation, development and explication of the interdisciplinary approaches places particular demands on the editorial team of the journal, which require an intensive exchange of ideas in advance.

All articles submitted to archimaera are first reviewed and selected by the editorial team. The contributions selected for publication then undergo a double-blind peer review by external peers. On the basis of this review and a subsequent revision phase, if necessary, the final editing of the contributions is carried out by the editorial team of archimaera.

All archimaera articles are freely and permanently accessible via the internet (open access) and referenced via a DOI, regardless of location.

Editors

editorial board archimaera

c/o Daniel Buggert
Amt für Denkmalschutz und Denkmalpflege, Stadt Köln
Stellvertretender Amtsleiter
Willy-Brandt-Platz 2
50679 Köln

c/o Adria Daraban
Professur Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur
TU Kaiserslautern
Pfaffenbergstr. 95
67663 Kaiserslautern

c/o Karl R. Kegler
Professur Geschichte und Theorie der Stadt und der Architektur
Hochschule München
Karlstraße 6
D 80333 München

c/o Anke Naujokat, Felix Martin
Lehrstuhl für Architekturgeschichte
RWTH Aachen
Schinkelstraße 1
D 52056 Aachen

c/o Rainer Schützeichel
Professur Architektur- und Stadtbaugeschichte
FH Potsdam
Kiepenheuerallee 5
14469 Potsdam