Objective
Is architecture made of materials or information? While architects often rely on visual data for communication, the project proposes a radical shift: to understand architecture as an information infrastructure. It departs from the observation that, unlike the natural sciences, practices of knowledge classification, data exchange, and metadata production in architecture remain entirely unstudied, even though the discipline depends on effective communication across many stakeholders.
DATAARK investigates the emergence of architectural metadata in post-WWII Europe, at a time when architectural knowledge became textual, encoded, and computable. It will do so through a case study of a universal building classification system, developed by the International Council for Building Research and Documentation (CIB). The system coded architectural elements and construction processes in a new universal language, intended to rationalise construction, unify the European building market, and deliver instant on-demand information via a network of computer terminals. The project pursues four aims: 1) to investigate how architectural knowledge was classified and encoded (as text); 2) to examine how classification empowered computer-based architectural processing (as data); 3) to analyse cultural frictions embedded in global architectural data networks (as information); 4) to trace the evolving design agency (as infrastructure). Methodologically, DATAARK builds on multi-sited archival research of institutional and technical documents, analysed through the lens of architectural history, STS, information theory and infrastructural studies.
Reframing post-war architecture as an international information infrastructure, the project examines the spatial politics of information systems and explores the impact of computer-based epistemologies on construction. The project’s output will include 2 monographs, 6+ articles, and a global network of researchers working on architectural metadata.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 Leuven
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.