Rika DEVOS
Associate Professor
Phone: +32 2 650 65 53
Email: rika.devos@ulb.be
BATir Department, CP 194/2
50, avenue Franklin Roosevelt, B-1050 Brussels
Publications: see DI-FUSION
URL: batir.ulb.be

Rika Devos is an engineer architect and holds a PhD in engineering sciences: architecture from Ghent University (2008). Her doctoral dissertation focused on the representation of post-war modern architecture at the 1958 Brussels world's fair, dealing with notions of (worldwide) dissemination of modernist ideals in architecture culture, but also with those in power and with the public at large. Her publications on the topic tackle themes as diverse as communication in exhibition architecture, popular culture, regionalist influences and engineering prowess. She was involved with several exhibitions dealing with Expo 58 and co-curated the exhibition Modern Architecture at Expo 58 in Mechlin (Lamot), 2008. When a postdoc assistant at the department of Architecture & Urban Planning of UGent (2009-2012) she was also lecturer on modern history of architecture and architecture theory at the University College of St. Lucas (Ghent and Brussels).
Engaged full time at ULB in 2012, Rika Devos is associate professor at the BATir Department of the Ecole polytechnique de Brussels, where she is responsible for the research unit AIA (Architecture and Ingénierie Architecturale). She teaches post-war history of construction and architecture (MA), theory of architecture (BA) and design studio (BA) and is involved in the academic coordination of the training in architectural engineering. Rika Devos’ research on exhibition architecture continues to flourish through collaborations with colleagues from Belgium and abroad, which resulted in 2015 in the co-edition of a book published with Ashgate. At BATir-AIA, dr. Devos develops her expertise in the history of modern architecture and construction, focussing on shifting formats of collaboration (mainly, but not solely, between engineers, architects and building contractors), design tools (and their paperwork) and notions of (international) knowledge exchange. With a research interest in the impact and position of technology and science in architecture and engineering (1940-1980), she explores the boundaries and overlaps of the related disciplines of architecture and construction history. She is founding member of the joint ULB-VUB research group Construction Histories Brussels and co-organiser of the upcoming VIth International Congress for Construction History in Brussels, 2018. Based on a long-standing interest for Belgian modern architecture and construction, Rika Devos also explores selected themes in the history of modern architecture in Belgium, based mainly on archival research. She is engaged in mainly multi-disciplinary research projects with diverse partners: individual researchers, academic research groups and archival institutions.

http://batir.ulb.ac.be/index.php/research/aia-architectural-engineering