Architecture Lab

The Architecture Lab is directed by Stella Nair, Associate Professor of Indigenous Arts of the Americas in the Department of Art History. Nair was trained as an architect and architectural historian, and she specializes in the study of materials, construction technology, and spatial practices. 

Metal Tools for flattening a stone (Stella Nair)

The focus of the lab is on architectural design, construction, materials, acoustics, ecology, and conservation. Graduate and undergraduate students and affiliated scholars conduct research in the facilities. Current projects include Contemporary Indigenous Mexican architecture, Mexica (Aztec) educational and ritual spaces, Inca soundscapes, adobe construction in the medieval Mediterranean, Icelandic Longhouses, the architecture of the Inca Civil War, and community focused conservation projects. 

Architecture Working Group

Also housed in the Architecture Lab, the Architecture Working Group brings together faculty and doctoral students from across campus and beyond who are working on Architectural history topics, ranging from design and construction studies, to larger critiques of the built environment across time and space. The group meets for lecture presentations, informal discussions, shared readings, and workshops. For more information on past lectures and events organized by the working group, see this link. Doctoral students interested in participating should contact Rachel Schloss (Archaeology) and Sarah Ortiz-Monasterio (Art History) for further information.

Collaboration with the Digital Lab

The Architecture Laboratory works closely with UCLA’s Digital Archaeology Lab and the Digital Research Consortium to share resources as well as facilitate and coordinate architectural research for members of the Cotsen community.

Workshops

The Architecture Lab offers workshops on relevant topics.

Events include:

1. Workshop on the botanicals used in Indigenous and African Diasporic architecture (part of “The Forgotten Canopy" series)
2. Workshop on Tongva and Choctaw architecture and ecology (part of “the Forgotten Canopy” series)
3. Workshop on Chumash architecture and sea craft (part of “The Forgotten Canopy series)

4. "Digital Sketches: Creating Qualitative, Humanistic Maps & Visualizations in Inkscape," led by Dr. Jeremy Mikecz, Dartmouth College 

5. The Architecture Lab collaborated with the Scholarly Innovation Lab (YRL) for a two part workshop on Architectural Drawings: A) Vectorworks B) Advanced Drawing in the Field

6.  The Architecture Lab teamed up with the Institute for Digital Research and Education and the Digital Archaeology Lab to offer a 2-day workshop on ArcGIS for Archaeologists (Day 1 and Day 2 along with a 3D component).