Academic position in Theory, History and Criticism of Architecture

Reference: 35425 / LOCI 002 / 2024 

UCLouvain seeks to recruit 

A full-time academic in Theory, History and Criticism of Architecture 

Main campus: Louvain-la-Neuve

About us

UCLouvain is in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Founded in the heart of Europe in 1425, the university brings together 40,000 students and 6,000 staff members on nine campuses in Brussels and Wallonia. Research and education activities are organised in 14 faculties, 22 research institutes, five learning centres and 18 libraries. UCLouvain also has two university hospitals.

UCLouvain is a major player in the transition to a sustainable society. The challenges of the ecological crisis are integrated into courses and the university develops numerous local projects (such as a university farm and sustainable campuses). As a digital university, UCLouvain is involved in open science and education, and trains academics in innovative teaching practices through its Louvain Learning Lab. Thanks to two science parks, the university’s research benefits from interaction with 250 companies and three incubators, which is fuelled further by being at the centre of a region driven by technological innovation.

UCLouvain has a long tradition of international collaborations for teaching and research through partnerships across the world. As a member of the Circle U. European University alliance, the university offers a unique opportunity to work in an environment of interconnected campuses across Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Pisa, Belgrade, Aarhus and Oslo).

The university has a gender and inclusion policy which prioritises equity and respect. Working at UCLouvain means contributing to the development of every individual’s skills and promoting the values of equality, transparency and efficiency.

The faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning and the Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment are organized on three sites of different character: Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Tournai. The diversity of locations is conducive to the development of research interests related to multiple local contexts. The position will be specifically located in Louvain-la-Neuve.

Post description

Within the Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning and the Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment, Science and Technology Sector, this position will include the following teaching, research and community service duties:

• Teaching 

You will teach mainly in the fields of design, theory, history and criticism of architecture, in the various courses managed by the faculty. You will also be expected to supervise Master’s theses. 

You will teach mainly in the following areas:

• Architectural design project;
• Courses and seminars in the theory and history of architecture covering all periods and cultures, with an emphasis on the contemporary. These courses analyse, in a deep and critical way, the concepts, theoretical models and means of architecture. They also address the description of the socio-economic and cultural contexts from where they have emerged and developed;
• Cross-approach courses bridging architecture and human sciences. These courses integrate, on the one hand, knowledge from humanities that can be transferred to architecture, and, on the other hand, they advance these disciplinary contributions towards the built environment.

The courses will mainly be given on the LOCI site in Louvain-la-Neuve. However, teaching and research activities might be deployed on each of the three sites of the faculty.

• Research

You will develop your research activities, including the creation of a research programme in the fields of theory, history and criticism of architecture, significantly oriented by the context of transition and its future developments.

Your research will be carried out through the study of texts, designs, methods, norms, assumptions, with emphasis given to the architectural concepts, the drivers of architectural forms, the understanding, particularly in terms of the socio-economic and cultural context, of our habitat and its effects on humans. These questions will be examined within a thoroughly-established theoretical and historical framework and will be founded on a critical interpretation of contemporary tools and methods of representation and design.

Your research will be carried out in collaboration with researchers from the LAB institute (Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment) and will also benefit from collaborations with other research institutes within the science and technology sector, and with an opening towards cooperation with other scientific sectors (construction, heritage, urbanism, landscape, archaeology, etc.).

You will be responsible for the supervision of PhD theses.

• In addition …

Once tenured, you will carry out various service activities and responsibilities within the institution, such as being a member of a programme committee or examination committee, or having management responsibilities within the faculty or research institute.

You will also contribute to serving society, particularly in the economic, social, cultural or development cooperation fields. Finally, you will ensure, through research and teaching activities, the university’s international visibility.

Who we’re looking for

• Education

You have a PhD in Building Arts, Design and Urbanism, or in Architecture, or in Architectural Engineering (or in a domain that can be considered as equivalent). 

You have extended experience abroad or at least outside your home institution.

• Experience

You have a proven track record in university teaching, with evidence where possible by formal evaluations. Your scientific experience is demonstrated by publications of international standing.

• Skills

You are comfortable working as part of a team of academics and integrate research results into your teaching. You are capable of conducting high-level scientific research, from obtaining funding to team management. You are creative, open to pedagogical innovation and multidisciplinary.You can communicate in French and English. If this is not the case, you undertake to acquire a command of these two languages within two years of taking up your position. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

Specifically: 

• You hold a master degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering.
• You have experience of the practice of architectural design.
• You have considerable experience in the teaching of architectural design.
• Additional training and education in an inter- or trans-disciplinary domain will be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of new digital technologies for the design, fabrication and representation of architecture will be considered an asset.

What we offer

• Tenure after positive assessment of the probationary period – typically four years. This type of career entitles you to a public sector pension.
• Appointment as lecturer or professor according to your previous academic experience, as determined by the Rectoral Council.
• Teaching load capped at 90 hours for a full-time tenure-track position, and 150 hours once tenured.
• An attractive and progressive salary according to seniority and the promotion process.
• A start date of 1 September 2024 at the earliest.
• An integrated leadership and management training programme, including a range of pedagogical, linguistic and other training courses.
• Benefits including transport, family, culture, commercial, etc.
• Official policy that supports equal opportunities and promotes diversity within academic and all other categories of staff.
• Specific emphasis on a work-life balance.

Practical Information

Application deadline: Monday, November 13th at noon (UTC+1 Time Zone)
Starting date: September 1st 2024 

Location:

Science and Technology Sector
Faculté d'architecture, d'ingénierie architecturale, d'urbanisme (LOCI) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/facultes/LOCI)
Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment (LAB) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/instituts-recherche/LAB) 

Need more information?

Questions about this position?

Prof. Eric Van Overstraeten, Dean LOCI – doyen-loci@uclouvain.be
Prof. Sergio Altomonte, President LAB – president-lab@uclouvain.be

Questions about the procedure?
Cécile Lion, Rector’s Office, cecile.lion@uclouvain.be

Questions about online application?
Andreea Chiriac, Rector’s Office, secretariat-vrpp@uclouvain.be

Interested?

Apply only via the online application (applications submitted via any other channel will not be considered). 
To be considered, your application must contain within a single PDF:  

• motivation letter; 
• current curriculum vitae;
• full publication list and summary of three most significant recent publications;
• research strategy: your five-year research programme AND a PhD thesis proposal for hiring a PhD student;
• teaching programme;
• copy of PhD diploma;
• names and contact details of three to five persons who can recommend your application according to the mandatory current procedure.

For full details of the application : https://uclouvain.be/fr/emploi/candidature-aca.html