Silvia Balzan

Silvia Balzan is a Lecturer in Architectural Studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Basel. Her research bridges architectural history, postcolonial studies, and environmental sciences, focusing on the politics of infrastructure and material decay in African contexts. She is currently accepting PhD students.

• Doctor of Social Science, University of Basel
• Master of Arts, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
• Master of Architecture, Università IUAV di Venezia
• Bachelor of Architecture, Università IUAV di Venezia

Research Interests: Balzan's work explores the materiality of politics, environmental history of architecture, and postcolonial urban repair. Her fieldwork spans Mozambique and Southern Africa, addressing themes like toxic modernity and the legacy of Swiss missionary architecture.

Scientific Awards:

• COST Action CA18137 Dissemination Conference Grant
• FAG Writing Grant (Basel)
• Istituto Svizzero Research Fellowship (Milan)
• Josef and Olga Tomcsik Fieldwork Travel Grant
• SAH Scott Opler Emerging Scholar Fellowship

Activities: Balzan chairs international conferences including Liquid Urbanisms in Africa and Toxic Modernity, and organizes events at the Society of Architectural Historians and Swiss GeoScience Meetings.