Professor Maximilian Sternberg is a leading historian and theorist of architecture at the University of Cambridge, specializing in Modern Architecture History and Urban Conflict Cambridge. His research is split between two high-impact areas: the influence of medieval imagery and the sacred on Modernism, and the political, social, and heritage practices within contested urban environments (Israel-Palestine, EU borderlands). As Deputy Director of the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research, he is actively recruiting students for doctoral studies in these intersecting fields.
Prof. Maximilian Sternberg, BA MPhil PhD | Modern Architecture History and Urban Conflict Cambridge Supervisor
- Professor for History and Theory of Architecture, Director of Graduate Studies
- University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture
Quick Profile Summary
| Detail | Content |
|---|---|
| Position | Professor for History and Theory of Architecture |
| Affiliation | Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge |
| Collegiate Role | Fellow of Pembroke College; Director of Studies for Architecture (Pembroke and St Catharine’s) |
| MArch/MSc/MPhil Role | Director of Graduate Studies |
| Current Major Grant | ESRC-funded project (completed, but shaping ongoing work): ‘Conflict in Cities and the Contested State’ |
| Specialization | Architecture and the Sacred; Medievalism in Modernism; Politics and Heritage in Contested Urban Space |
Introduction and Research Niche
Professor Maximilian Sternberg is a distinguished architectural historian and theorist whose work is fundamentally concerned with how architecture embodies and mediates both historical ideas and contemporary social conflict. His research defines the field of Modern Architecture History and Urban Conflict Cambridge, splitting its focus between deep historical interpretation and applied urban studies.
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A key research stream involves exploring the appropriations of the past in modern architecture, specifically focusing on how images of the Middle Ages were utilized within Modernism, and how modern architecture conceptualized the sacred. His collaborative project on Alvar Aalto’s post-war church designs in Germany exemplifies this intersection of history, theology, and architectural form.
A parallel, equally vital stream focuses on urban conflicts. As Deputy Director of the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research, Professor Sternberg investigates the interaction between urban change, politics, and heritage practices in highly contested territories, including Israel-Palestine, North Africa, and complex EU borderlands. This work—which has resulted in publications like The Struggle for Jerusalem’s Holy Places—grounds theoretical concepts in tangible, sensitive, and politically charged urban environments.
Graduate Research Opportunities (For Prospective Students)
We are actively recruiting ambitious PhD and MPhil candidates with backgrounds in Architectural History, Art History, Urban Studies, Geography, and Sociology. Opportunities focus on advancing research in two primary, yet interconnected, intellectual streams within Modern Architecture History and Urban Conflict Cambridge:
1. Research Stream: Modern Architecture History and the Sacred
This stream invites research into the history and theory of modern architecture, particularly its relationship with religious and historical concepts. Students will explore how architects in the 20th century navigated the loss of traditional religious patronage and sought new forms of meaning by re-imagining the past (Medievalism, Gothic, Romanesque). Potential PhD topics include:
- The influence of monastic architecture (e.g., Cistercian) on Modernist aesthetic and theoretical discourse.
- The design and politics of sacred space in post-war European or global contexts (e.g., specific case studies of Aalto’s churches or other modern religious architecture).
- The role of museums, exhibitions, and staged environments in presenting and appropriating medieval heritage for modern political or cultural ends.
2. Research Stream: Urban Conflict, Politics, and Contested Space
Linked to the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research, this stream focuses on the social, political, and material life of contested cities. Students utilize ethnographic, historical, and planning-focused methodologies to examine how conflict shapes urban morphology and daily life. Successful PhD projects in this area have included:
- Ageing and the City: The interaction of demographic change with urban planning and social support structures.
- The Urban Camp: The relationship between temporary settlements (like the Berlin-Tempelhof refugee camp) and the permanent urban environment.
- Walking as Resistance: Exploring aesthetic forms of political resistance through movement in post-colonial or contested landscapes.
- Urban Transformations in Moscow/Post-Soviet Contexts: The influence of political shifts and architectural discourse on urban form.
Key Awards and Fellowships
| Year | Award / Fellowship | Institution / Body |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | University Lecturer Appointment | University of Cambridge |
| 2007-2009 | Post-doctoral Scholarships | Paris and Rome |
| N/A | Research Associate, ESRC Project | ESRC-funded ‘Conflict in Cities and the Contested State’ |
| N/A | Fellow | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
Selected Publications
Monograph (2013): Cistercian Architecture and Medieval Society. Leiden: Brill.
Co-Authored Book (2013): The Struggle for Jerusalem’s Holy Places. London: Routledge.
Edited Book (2020): Modern Architecture and the Sacred. London and New York: Bloomsbury Academic (Co-edited with R. Anderson).
Journal Article (Forthcoming 2020): “Modern Stagings of the Medieval at the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne (1910-1939).” The Art Bulletin.
Journal Article (2019): “The Civic and the Sacred: Alvar Aalto’s Churches and Parish Centres in Wolfsburg (1960–68).” Architectural History 42 (Co-authored with S. Singler).
Journal Article (2016): “Arrested Conflict: Transnational place-making in Polish-German border towns.” Space and Polity, 20(3) (Co-authored with K. Kurnicki).
Contact Information
Prospective students interested in supervision should reach out via the following channels:
| Detail | Content |
|---|---|
| Email Address | – |
| University Office Phone | 01223 332971 |
| Research Centre Link | https://www.urbanconflicts.arct.cam.ac.uk |
| University Profile Page | Professor Maximilian Sternberg BA Hons, MPhil, PhD |
Supervisory Ethos
Professor Sternberg is the Director of Graduate Studies and brings a wealth of experience to his supervisory role, valuing intellectual curiosity, rigorous archival work, and critical theory. He cultivates an environment that encourages candidates to tackle complex historical and political questions, emphasizing the importance of grounding philosophical ideas in material culture and the built environment. He seeks candidates who are self-directed, possess strong critical reading and writing skills, and are comfortable engaging with highly sensitive social and political contexts. Given his dual expertise in Modern Architecture History and Urban Conflict Cambridge, students benefit from supervision that seamlessly bridges historical analysis with contemporary urban theory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main focus of the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research?
The Centre focuses on investigating how urban change, politics, and heritage practices interact in cities marked by ethnic, national, or political conflict, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and European borderlands.
2. Is there a priority between the History stream and the Urban Conflict stream?
No, both streams are equally active. Your application should clearly define which area (or the intersection of both) your proposed research falls into.
3. Does your research on Modernism require knowledge of medieval architecture?
Yes, a key area of study is the appropriation and imagination of the Middle Ages (Medievalism) in Modernist design, so a strong grounding or willingness to learn medieval architectural history is beneficial.
4. What kind of archival or fieldwork is involved in the Urban Conflict research?
This often involves extensive fieldwork in sensitive areas, qualitative data collection, engagement with local urban planning documents, policy analysis, and, in some cases, ethnographic methodologies.
5. What is the scope of your collaborative project on Alvar Aalto?
The project specifically examines Aalto’s post-war church designs in Germany, analyzing their architectural form, sacred meaning, and civic role within the historical context of post-war German reconstruction.
6. What scholarships have your current PhD students received?
His students have been successful in securing highly competitive awards, including the Gates Scholarship, ESRC Scholarship, AHRC Scholarship, Wolfson Scholarship, and Cambridge International Scholarship.
7. Do you supervise students using purely theoretical approaches?
While theory is central (evidenced by the Phenomenologies of the City book), Professor Sternberg strongly emphasizes grounding theory in architectural projects, archival evidence, or specific urban sites.
8. What are the key periods you focus on in Architectural History?
His focus primarily spans the medieval period (Cistercian architecture) and the modern period (Modernism, 20th Century).
9. What makes your approach to urban studies unique?
It is unique due to its architectural perspective, focusing on the material evidence of conflict (e.g., in planning, heritage practices, and the built form) rather than purely political science or sociological methods.
10. What is your role as Director of Graduate Studies?
As Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Sternberg oversees the academic progress and intellectual development of all PhD and MPhil students within the Department of Architecture.
