Research seminar “Humanities in the Anthropocene” Vol.15 “Making Sense of Ruins: Approaches of Post-War Urban Reconstruction and Dealing with the Past since 1945″（11/19）
Abstruct
How do cities recover after war? This lecture examines urban reconstruction not only as a technical and architectural task, but also as a social and moral process of coming to terms with difficult pasts. Drawing on examples from Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, it examines how architects, planners, and communities have negotiated the balance between restoring pre-war urban forms and envisioning new urban futures. From the devastated landscapes of post–World War II Europe to more recent conflicts in the Balkans and the Middle East, decisions about what to rebuild and what to let disappear have reflected changing ideas of memory, responsibility, and collective aspiration. Tracing the evolution of reconstruction debates from 1945 to the “new wars” of the late twentieth century, the lecture shows how rebuilding has always intertwined with memory politics, shaping both the material and symbolic dimensions of urban life. Ultimately, it reflects on how past experiences of societies making sense of their ruins remain relevant in a world still marked by destruction.
Speaker
BADESCU, Gruia, Research Fellow (Research Group Leader), Zukunftskolleg (Institute for Advanced Study), University of Konstanz
Commentator
HATSUDA, Kosei, School of Architecture, Department of Architectural Design, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Architecture, Kogakuin University
Date & Time
November 19, 2025 (Wed.) 4:30-6:00 pm
Venue
Room #712, Building #19, Waseda Campus, Waseda University and Online (zoom)
Zoom access Link: to be accounced later
Program
16:30-17:20 Dr. Badescu’s Lecture
17:20-17:40 Dr. Hatsuda’s Comment
17:40-18:00 Q&A Session
Language
English
Prospected Audience
Undergraduate, Graduate, Researchers, Faculty members, general audience
Organizer
Waseda University’s Institute for Advanced Study
Registration
Free Admission
Prior registration required. Please register from <here>
