Summary

The second volume of the Architecture + Infrastructures Working Paper Series brings together articles presented at the third International Conference Colonial and Post-Colonial Landscapes: Architecture, Cities and Labour, held at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon in February 2026. The articles cover a variety of geographical areas, historical periods and topics, shedding light on the many landscapes, buildings, construction practices, individuals, interactions, dimensions and narratives that intersect with the history of colonial architecture, social and labour history, and construction technology.

The relationship between architecture and labour in colonial contexts provides a promising approach to addressing some of the challenges faced by post-colonial societies, offering diverse perspectives. These include the relationship with “Western” building technologies and materials; the scarcity of traditional construction systems; the undervaluation of these systems in terms of climate adaptation and sustainable solutions; and the persistence of racial and gender inequalities in work environments. This WPS#02 focuses on housing, modernism, and socio-spatial legacies.

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