66. New Tools for the Study of Building Migrations: The Case of Ticinese Architects and Craftsmen 1500–1914

The migration of architects and building workers from what is now the Canton of Ticino, who between the sixteenth century and the first decade of the 20th century moved to Italy, continental Europe, the United Kingdom, North Africa and the Americas, is a well-known phenomenon and has been the subject of numerous studies, approached from different perspectives.

Rather than focusing on the phenomenon itself, this session centres on the historiographical approaches that have emerged in recent years and, above all, on the new digital tools that can broaden and deepen our understanding of Ticinese building migration.

The session asks how digital resources, innovative archival practices, the rereading of known documents, newly identified sources and collaborative forms of knowledge production can transform research and its dissemination.

Building on the projects L’impresa Fontana tra XVI e XVII secolo: modalità operative, tecniche e ruolo delle maestranze(Swiss National Science Foundation grant no. 150268) and Cantieri della migrazione. Co-costruzione di un archivio digitale sulla migrazione edile ticinese XVI–XX secolo (Swiss National Science Foundation Agora grant no. 231123), both initiated by the Archivio del Moderno at the Università della Svizzera italiana, the session aims to promote dialogue among scholars by encouraging new methodological approaches and research tools for the study of architecture, construction history, professional mobility and the circulation of expertise across borders.

Themes: Architectural migration; Digital archives; Public history

Additional format comment: Bringing together four to six speakers, the session will foster dialogue across different geographies and methods and will conclude with a final discussion.

Lead Convenor: Alberto Pérez Negrete, Archivio del Moderno, Accademia di architettura-Università della Svizzera Italiana – Switzerland, Switzerland-Italy/Venice

Co-convenors: Alessandra Pfister, Archivio del Moderno, Accademia di architettura-Università della Svizzera Italiana – Switzerland, Switzerland

To submit a Paper to this Session, please follow the guidance on our website and complete the AAH 2027 Call for Papers Proposal Submission Form.