Urban Interventions Confronted by the destruction and subsequent growth of vast urban areas, many artists and architects working in the post-war era embraced the city as both the subject and the site of their work. While some of these individuals supported the reconstruction of historical centers in order to bridge the ruptures of the war and reestablish a connection to history, others celebrated the opportunity to construct the modern city completely anew and focused on describing and realizing new urban utopias. Still others embraced the existing conditions of the urban environment and focused instead on its position at the center of modern life. Examples of the diverse manner in which artists and architects engaged with the city, its structure, and its population include the works of the Nouveaux Réalistes, including Arman and Daniel Spoerri, the writings of Aldo Rossi, and the radical visions of Archigram. For all of these artists and architects the urban environment offered an important site of action within contemporary culture to alter the conditions of modern life. Papers exploring all forms of operation and intervention within the city are welcome, as are those addressing how the city itself was conceived and defined. Panel Presentations: Blow-Up by H. Steiner, University of Buffalo Townscape in Context: Nikolaus Pevsner, “Visual Planning,” and the Concept of Context in Post-War English Architecture and Urbanism by M. Aitchison, University of Queensland Positioning Wolf Vostell by B. Lima, Yale The Architectural Arms Race Across the Berlin Wall by I. Weizman, Architectural Association Panel Chair: Dr. Hadas Steiner, University of Buffalo

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