Research Committee Meeting - Historic Interiors Affiliate Group of the Society of Architectural Historians
Founded at Harvard University in 1940, the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) is an international nonprofit membership organization that promotes the study, interpretation and conservation of architecture, design, landscapes and urbanism worldwide. (1)
Proposed by Professors Paula Lupkin, The University of North Texas, Mark Hinchman, The University of Nebraska and Anca I. Lasc, Pratt Institute (2), the mission of the Historic Interiors Affiliate Group at “SAH” to gather people together to foster scholarly inquiry on the history of the interior within and beyond the SAH, supporting teaching, research, learning, archival, library communities, publishers and practitioners in the field.
Architecture and interior design are intrinsically interconnected disciplines, and understanding their historical relationship is essential to addressing contemporary challenges. Historic buildings and their historic interiors offer valuable lessons in spatial organization, material selection, environmental adaptation, natural lighting, ventilation, and the efficient use of energy and resources. Integrating architectural history with the study of historic interiors enables a more comprehensive understanding of how buildings function as interconnected spatial, environmental, cultural, and social systems. This interdisciplinary perspective is particularly vital in addressing contemporary issues such as public health, climate change, energy efficiency, sustainability, and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. By critically examining historical practices alongside contemporary technologies and design strategies, we can develop more sustainable, resilient, and human-centered approaches to the built environment while preserving its cultural and architectural heritage.
I am delighted to have received an invitation from the Founding President of the Historic Interiors Affiliate Group at the Society of Architectural Historians (HIG-SAH) to join its inaugural Research Committee. Since this Research Committee of the HIG-SAH establishment, I have been its longest-serving, active member and have also had the privilege of serving as its co-leader.
1.https://sah.org/, last accessed on September 18, 2026.
2. https://sah.org/2019/12/10/sah-announces-establishment-of-affiliate-groups/, last accessed on September 18, 2026.
About Society of Architectural Historian established at Harvard University in 1940: