Claudine Houbart
Claudine Houbart is a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Liege. A graduate in Architecture from the Institut Supérieur d'Architecture Lambert Lombard, Claudine Houbart holds a PhD in Engineering Sciences (KU Leuven). She teaches History and Theory of Heritage and is a researcher in the research unit Art, Archaeology and Heritage (AAP).
What does the International Day of Women and Girls in Science mean to you?
For me, it evokes a rebalancing that evolves more or less rapidly depending on the culture and the discipline. As far as I am concerned, I work in a field where women are very well represented, whether at the head of scientific institutions - the curator of the Getty Research Institute's architectural collections is a woman, Maristella Casciato - or among academics or young researchers. I have never perceived any discrimination in this regard. But this experience is unfortunately not generalizable to all fields of research, nor to all institutions. It is therefore very important to work on raising awareness and sharing our positive experiences.
Woman researcher or man researcher .. same journey?
The evolution of our society in the direction of questioning gender stereotypes is progressively erasing the differences between these paths. But this does not mean that doing research is a long, quiet river for everyone! The difficulty of reconciling family life and research, one of the factors that made this type of career extremely difficult for women, remains a reality, which is certainly shared today, but at the same time aggravated by the race for productivity and administrative red tape. This is why being able to withdraw for a few weeks, as I am doing at the moment, is so precious... but rare.
Within ULiège, which other researchers inspire you or whose name you would like to mention ?
Even if she does not work at ULiège, I would like to mention the French philosopher Chris Younès, to whom ULiège awarded the insignia of doctor honoris causa in 2020 upon proposal of our faculty. Having met her several times during conferences, architectural project juries or thesis juries, I am always amazed by the benevolent generosity with which she puts her knowledge at the service of the questions of each student, colleague, young researcher or researcher. Even Jules Renard would have admitted it, modesty suits great ladies, too!
What are you currently working on?
As I answer these questions, I am fortunate enough to be in Los Angeles on a research visit to the Getty Research Institute where I am finalizing a book on the origins of integrated conservation policy as seen through the eyes of one of its privileged actors, Raymond M. Lemaire, a Belgian art historian. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was one of those who contributed, on a European scale, to the implementation of measures for the rehabilitation of historic centers which, until then, had often been demolished under the guise of sanitation. The Getty library is, along with the ICCROM library in Rome, the place where one can find the most resources to contextualize this research, which itself is mainly based on archival work in Belgium.
From a professional point of view, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I have had a particular career path, having completed several masters degrees and then spent more than ten years working on a doctoral thesis in parallel with a full-time job (and three children!). So I did not get my doctoral thesis until very late, when I was already 43 years old. I was then quickly brought to play the role of President of the Permanent Commission for Research (CPFR) of ULiège and then of Vice-Dean for Research, which involved me in the governance of a faculty under construction. As my mandate comes to an end, I aspire to be able to devote time to the realization of research projects that I have had in mind for years. In ten years, I would like to be able to say to myself that these projects are on track and federate the network that I have gradually built up.
