Travels in Architectural History

Travel is a powerful force in shaping the perception of the modern world and plays a growing role within architectural and urban cultures. Linked to political and ideological issues, travel redefines places and landscapes through transport infrastructures and buildings. Architecture, in turn, is reconstructed through visual and textual narratives produced by scores of modern travellers — including writers and artists along with architects themselves. In the age of the camera, travel is bound up with new kinds of imaginaries; private records and recollections often mingle with official, stereotyped views, as the value of architectural heritage increasingly rests on the mechanical reproduction of its images. The article introduces readers to the AH special collection, curated by the three authors and stemming from an open call, broadly dealing with travel issues in global architectural history, from the 18th century to the present day.