1. Forums
Three IRHA forums took place in the CCA's Shaughnessy House during the Winter semester of 2003. As has been the case in previous years, the events provided IRHA scholars with an opportunity to present and discuss aspects of their research among peers. The forums were moderately well attended and each presentation elicited engaging discussions.

The series began on 17 February with a presentation by Rhona Richman Kenneally, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design Art in the Faculty of Fine Art at Concordia University. Her presentation, entitled "The Tempered Gaze: medieval church architecture, scripted tourism, and ecclesiology in early Victorian Britain" was drawn from her recently defended doctoral dissertation. She also presented material from the CCA Library that had been pertinent to her research.

On 10 March Louise Pelletier, Adjunct Professor at McGill University's School of Architecture, gave a presentation entitled, "Expression et récit dans l'œuvre de Nicolas Le Camus de Mézières." This talk was drawn from her doctoral dissertation on Le Camus de Mézières but also incorporated newly-discovered material, and again included a presentation of CCA Library material.

The last forum of the semester took place on 14 April. Alain Findeli, Professeur titulaire in Design industriel at the Faculté de l'aménagement of l'Université de Montréal made a joint presentation with Rabah Bousbaci, Chercheur associé au Centre de recherche en éthique de l'Université de Montréal and a PhD student working under the supervision of Alain Findeli. The title of their Forum presentation was, "L'architecture et la philosophie pratique: de la poiesis à la praxis" and served as a good opportunity for Rabah Bousbaci to share the main questions driving his doctoral research.

Following a suggestion made at the July Liaison Committee Meeting, IRHA's Fall forum series was replaced by a single IRHA event which was kindly hosted by Irena Murray, Chief Curator, at the John Bland Canadian Architecture Collection (CAC) at McGill University on 26 November. This revised format was intended primarily to encourage a greater attendance and enhance the IRHA's potential as a gathering place for Montreal's architectural historians. Professor Alberto Pérez-Gómez invited his Ph.D. students to attend in lieu of his weekly seminar, and in all over 30 people gathered for the afternoon.

Three illustrated presentations were delivered by students in the final stages of their doctoral dissertations. Victoria Solan, Ph.D. candidate in the History of Art at Yale University, presented "Pattern Book Plans for Healthy Homes: O.S. Fowler's Octagonal Home for All". Panos Leventis, Ph.D. candidate in Architecture (History and Theory) at McGill presented "Nicosia, Cyprus, 1192-1570: Urban experience in pre-modernity". Jose Thevercard, also a PhD. candidate in Architecture (History and Theory) at McGill, presented "The Architectural Theory of the Manasara". The questions to all three presenters that followed resulted in a vaulable and interesting discussion of these widely different topics.

In addition, Irena Murray organized a display of materials relating to Peter Collins, and introduced a demonstration of the web site "Theatrical Space as a Model for Architecture: a Bibliography". IRHA members therefore had an opportunity to review this recently-completed collaborative project between the IRHA and the Digital Collections Program at McGill, and to discuss its future maintenance.

2. Research
In March the Institute issued a Call for Submissions to support research projects carried out by IRHA members. The themes for the 2003 grants were once again defined by the following criteria:

• Emphasis on history and theory of architecture in relation with other humanistic and scientific disciplines.
• Research focused on architectural and urban culture and on the landscape.

3. IRHA on the Internet
With the kind assistance of volunteer web consultant Renata Guttman (Head of Reader Services, CCA Library), the IRHA Director and Coordinator undertook to review and update the IRHA web site in preparation for a Spring 2004 re-launch.

4. Public Activities
Planning for the IRHA Colloquium "Architectural Periodicals in the 1960s and 70s", scheduled for 6-7 May 2004, began in earnest following the Liaison Committee's approval of its format and budget in July. IRHA member Alexis Sornin (Historiographer, CCA Library) took on the primary responsibility for organizing this event, supported by a Coordinating Committee consisting of Gerald Beasley, IRHA Director; Aliki Economides, IRHA Coordinator; and IRHA Liaison Committee members Professors Alberto Pérez-Gómez, McGill University, and Irena Latek, Université de Montréal. In September a Call for Papers was printed for display and also widely distributed in Europe and North America through electronic discussion lists. The response was very encouraging, with a total of 56 abstracts received by the 19 December deadline.

5. Publications
At its 10 March forum, the IRHA launched its latest publication Peter Collins et l'histoire de l'architecture moderne / Peter Collins and the critical history of modern architecture, edited by Irena Latek. By year's end a modest number of copies had been sold locally, and a distribution agreement signed on 14 October between IRHA and ABC Art Books Canada should guarantee this monograph, and future IRHA publications, a significantly wider audience.

6. Membership
Professor Ricardo Castro's 3-year term as Director of IRHA ended in July and Gerald Beasley, CCA Associate Chief Curator and Head Librarian, was appointed in his place. There were no other changes to the IRHA Liaison Committee.

At its July meeting, the Committee agreed that associate membership should be extended to all interested Ph.D. students at either the Université de Montréal or McGill University upon nomination by an IRHA member, accompanied by a statement of the student's research interests and thesis topic. A review of member interest was planned for the following year.

Gerald Beasley
Director, IRHA
30 January 2004