Johan Lagae

Johan Lagae is a Professor at Ghent University's Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. His academic career spans decades of research focused on colonial and postcolonial architecture in Africa, particularly examining the built environments of the former Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo). He has established himself as a leading scholar in architectural history with a specific emphasis on urban landscapes, colonial power structures, and the material manifestations of colonial rule.

Professor Lagae's research interests center on colonial architecture, urban history, and architectural heritage in Africa. His work critically examines how architecture and urban planning served as instruments of colonial governance, segregation, and representation. He investigates topics ranging from hospital architecture and urban segregation to the construction of government buildings and the representation of colonial power at international exhibitions. His approach combines architectural history with urban studies, postcolonial theory, and material culture studies to provide nuanced understandings of Africa's built environments during and after colonial rule.

His extensive publication record reveals consistent focus on Central Africa, particularly the urban landscapes of Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. His recent work shows increasing attention to the intersections between architecture, memory, and postcolonial identity, while maintaining his foundational interest in how colonial spatial practices continue to shape contemporary African cities. The articles demonstrate methodological sophistication, often drawing on archival research, visual analysis, and comparative approaches across different colonial contexts.

Professor Lagae has supervised numerous doctoral students who have gone on to become established scholars in architectural history and urban studies. His frequent collaborations with scholars from African institutions, particularly the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), demonstrate his commitment to building research capacity and fostering transnational scholarly networks. His work has been supported by various research projects including 'Construction History, Above and Beyond,' 'City, architecture and colonial space in Matadi en Lubumbashi,' and 'Tout le Congo est un chantier.'

His research extends to the curation of exhibitions on colonial architecture and urban history, as evidenced by his involvement with the 'Memory of Congo: the colonial era' exhibition. Professor Lagae's scholarly contributions have helped reshape understandings of African modernism and the complex legacies of colonial architecture across the continent.