Topics and issues

Disciplines and techniques

• Civil and structural engineering
• Building construction
• Military and industrial construction
• Service engineering and building physics
• Construction materials
• Construction methods, processes and tools

Theoretical issues

• Methods of design and analysis
• Developments in engineering sciences
• Relationships between theory and practice, empiricism and science, craft and industrialisation
• Recording, communication and spread of experience and knowledge in construction
• Development of building regulations and codes, books and journals

Economical, cultural and social issues

• Biographic research
• Economic and social history of building firms and labour
• Efficiency, optimisation, economy and ecology in construction
• Cultural influences to and cultural effects of building technology
• Construction engineering and policy, Construction history in literature and film
• Societal attitudes to construction engineering in different eras and cultures

Methodical aspects

• Defining “Construction History” – from movement to discipline
• Methods of investigation, documentation, analysis and evaluation
• Engineering appraisal of historic structures
• Communication of construction history – new means and media
• Construction history pedagogy – purpose and goals
• Integration of construction history into the education of engineers and architects