The reconstructed memory

Auguste Perret, a major figure of modern architecture, was at the centre of a discussion between Joseph Abram, French architect and historian, and Pierre Hebbelinck, architect and publisher from Liège.

Entitled “Reconstructed Memory”, the talk explored how historical knowledge can inform contemporary practice and the conception of architectural projects.

Thinking the relationship between history and design

What tools does history offer to contemporary practice?
What place should be given to intangible heritage and to theoretical, unbuilt conceptions?
How can we understand the dynamic of invention at work in Perret’s architecture, and how can historical knowledge be transformed into a design instrument?

Through the project for the transformation of the Halle Perret, Joseph Abram and Pierre Hebbelinck illustrated the richness of the dialogue between research and practice: showing how history, far from being a mere backdrop, can become a genuine driver of design.

The conference was part of the cycle “About authorship & collaborations”, organised at the École d’architecture de Paris-Est, which invites reflection on new forms of collective authorship and on the relationships between disciplines within contemporary architectural production.