Botond Bognar

Edgar A. Tafel Chair in Architecture, UIUC

Monday, March 5, 2007
5:30 P.M. - Lawrence J. Plym Auditorium
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall

Edgar A. Tafel Distinguished Lecture

A member of the U of I faculty since 1981, Professor Bognar specializes in the history and theories of contemporary Japanese architecture and urbanism. In addition to lecture and seminar courses on these subjects, he teaches architectural design for graduate students and serves as a thesis adviser as well. Previously, he worked as a designer and principal architect in Hungary. He is also an architectural photographer.

Professor Bognar lived in Japan, and he frequently visits the country to continue his
longstanding research. He is the author of many publications including these books: Japanese Architecture of Today, Contemporary Japanese Architecture, The New Japanese Architecture, The Japan Guide, Togo Murano: Master Architect of Japan (winner of a 1997 AIA International Book Award), World Cities: TOKYO, Nikken Sekkei 1900-2000: Building Future Japan, Hiroshi Hara: “The Floating World” of His Architecture, and Kengo Kuma: Selected Works. Currently he is working on these books: The “Bubble” and Beyond: Japanese Architecture in the Age of Economic and Social Upheavals, and Modern Architectures in History: JAPAN.

As keynote speaker, lecturer, and panelist, Professor Bognar has appeared at many
institutions all around the world, such as Columbia University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Tokyo University, Brown University, Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, Royal Academy of Arts in London, Japan Institute of Architects in Tokyo, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, McGill University, Montreal, Carleton University, Ottawa, Graham Foundation, Washington University, Universities of Brussels, Gent, Liege, Antwerp, University of Oulu in Finland, Architecture Center of Vienna, and many others.

In recognition of Professor Bognar’s international prominence, he has been named a Japan Foundation Fellow and has received the prestigious Architectural Institute of Japan Cultural Appreciation Prize of 2005. His other awards include a Mombusho Scholarship in Tokyo, two Graham Foundation Fellowships, Social Science Research Council Fellowship, Endowed Chair in Tokyo University, Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, Union Arts and Culture Foundation of Japan Fellowship, and Visiting Professorships at the University of Oulu, Finland and the Macintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow. He is a “University Scholar” and an Associate of the Center for Advanced Study at Illinois.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Professor Bognar received his B.Sc.Arch. (1968) & M.Arch. (1972) at the Budapest Technical University, and an M.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning (1981) at the University of California Los Angeles.