The Labor of Albert Kahn
<p>This paper by Claire Zimmerman is a reflection on the research methods and questions posed by the scale and archives of Albert Kahn and the firm he founded, Albert Kahn Associates. Less formal than a peer-reviewed article, the essay is the first in a series introducing innovative research projects currently underway and providing a means for scholars to solicit feedback and provoke discussion.</p> <p>Zimmerman’s paper addresses the increasingly prominent question of scale in histories of architecture. What new understandings can we gain through both close and distant readings of architectural phenomena that manifest themselves in ways too complex for an individual historian to comprehend? How can large-scale organizations or systems be understood architecturally? These are questions engaged by many scholars, and we invite responses in the comments section below.</p>
Authors: Claire Zimmerman
Aggregate Architectural History Collaborative