Archictecture of Disjuncture

"Through careful analysis of the Romanesque cathedral of Mofetta (in Apulia, southern Italy), Williams demonstrates how the commercial boom of the Mediterranean changed the way churches were funded, designed, and built. The young bishopric of Molfetta, emerging in an economy of long-distance trade, competed with much wealthier institutions in its own diocese. Funding for the cathedral was slow and unpredictable. To adapt, the builders designed toward versatility, embracing multi-functionalism, change over time, specialization, and a heterogeneous style. Joseph C. Williams is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Williams holds a Ph. D. in Art History from Duke University, where he was advised by Dr. Caroline Bruzelius. His research focuses on Romanesque architecture in Southern Italy, with a particular emphasis on?building process, construction techniques, and pan-Mediterranean exchanges of specialized knowledge. Williams is also active in the Digital Humanities and new ways of representing historic buildings, including digital photogrammetry and GIS, and has served as Project Manager for the Kingdom of Sicily Image Database. At Maryland, Williams teaches courses on ancient and medieval architecture, buildings archaeology, and the theme of interaction and conflict in the Mediterranean. Williams is the recipient of a Phyllis W.G. Gordan / Lily Auchincloss / Samuel H. Kress Foundation Rome Prize in Medieval Studies." --