Open call for guest-researchers 2026 – ArkDes collection

ArkDes is looking for two guest researchers to conduct research in ArkDes’ collections.

ArkDes’ research activities aim to increase knowledge on our subject areas and to identify new applications of existing knowledge. ArkDes conducts two forms of research:

• Internally, building up knowledge and research around the collections.
• Practice-based research, where third parties are commissioned to conduct research.

We are now looking for two visiting researchers who can participate in the development of research around ArkDes’ collections by contributing research-based perspectives and proposals for object selection for future versions of the ArkDes Collection exhibition.

The ArkDes Collection exhibition

The exhibition ArkDes Collection aims to show the breadth of the museum’s collections by displaying original material. Each year the content is rotated, both for preservation reasons and in order to invite in broader perspectives and narratives.

The guest researcher assignment

As part of the work for upcoming rotations, ArkDes is announcing two places for visiting researchers. They will have the opportunity to deep-dive into some of the museum’s four million objects, analyse and question the material, and explore new ways of looking at the cultural heritage that can be found in the museum’s collections. During their stay, the visiting researchers will also participate in the development of research conducted at ArkDes.

We are particularly interested in project proposals that address:

The City Behind the Façade

How do urban spaces adapt to new uses? With a focus on the human scale and on the relationship between materials, details, and how spaces are used, interior environments can also be understood within a broader urban context. Technological development, economic shifts, and social change reshape and adapt environments. How do design and architecture reflect the interaction between public space and the city’s interiors over time? From small, intimate spatial contexts to broader perspectives on sustainability, social justice, and the resource-efficient use of the existing building stock.

Semi-Aged Architecture

Buildings from the latter half of the 20th century surround us—many robust and well-constructed yet often questioned. This is architecture that is too young to be considered cultural heritage, yet old enough to be outdated, perhaps unattractive, and close to demolition. The ArkDes collection contains drawings from this period, as well as a largely unexplored body of architectural photography. The collection includes extensive photographic material documenting architecture, urban development, design processes, and built environments.

Guest researchers are free to choose which parts of ArkDes’ collection they are interested in delving into.

Submit your application

Read more about the open call in the PDF below. Then submit your application using the form further down the page. The application is open until 20 March 2026 at 14:00.