Processes of commodification and valuation of architectural fragments – an ontology of the architectural fragment through a number of case studies in the early 20th century

The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a profound change in how architectural fragments and materials circulated and were reused. Previously, the pre-modern building industry operated through a relatively simple, locally driven reuse of building parts, guided by necessity and gradual urban growth. However, large-scale urban transformations, advancements in international transport, and increasing globalization profoundly altered how architectural fragments were valued, commodified and reused. These transformations and widespread demolitions also sparked strong heritage sentiments and a growing impulse to preserve and salvage architectural fragments.

This doctoral research examines the processes of commodification and valuation of architectural fragments in this period, drawing from material reuse studies, critical heritage studies, and anthropology. Using object biographies in combination with archival research, it follows selected fragments—from dismantlement to their current locations—to understand how their cultural and social value was established, altered, and negotiated.

Central to the project are in-depth case studies that examine different strategies for valuing, salvaging, and trading architectural fragments during this period. The Comité d’Études du Vieux Bruxelles represents a local, institutional response to the rapid urban transformation of Brussels, working with the municipal storage facility (Magasin de la Ville) to salvage and safeguard fragments. In contrast, the practices of American collectors such as William Randolph Hearst exemplify the large-scale transatlantic trade in architectural fragments, where entire interiors and buildings were dismantled in Europe and reassembled abroad.

Alongside these cases, the research also considers the role of other key actors—antique dealers, interior designers, demolition firms, auction houses, emerging museums, and heritage organizations—who collectively formed the ecosystem through which fragments circulated and gained meaning. This broader perspective reveals the scale and complexity of the market that shaped the practices of valuation, commodification, and reuse of architectural fragments.

The project seeks to better understand how relationships with salvaged building components evolved during the 20th century, leading to the near disappearance of component reuse practices today. It also aims to uncover the roles and stories of key players in this overlooked period of the reuse economy.

Project Info

Research group: Theory and History of Architecture
Start Date: 22-11-2023
Researchers: Louise Vanhee
Academic supervisors: Lionel Devlieger and Maarten Liefooghe