News 2022: Architectural Styles of New Bedford

Travel through history with an architectural walking tour of New Bedford led by Prof. Pamela Karimi and the New Bedford Preservation Society!

A tour can help you see your neighborhood through new eyes. That’s the idea behind the walking tours of New Bedford offered by Professor Pamela Karimi in her class ARH357 “Modern Architecture: Global History.”

In the Spring 2022 version of this upper-level architectural history class, Karimi will be performing tours in conjunction with the New Bedford Preservation Society, a private, nonprofit organization that offers many different tours of the New Bedford area. Karimi describes the tours as an opportunity to “learn about 19th century architectural styles. Everything from Gothic revival and Greek revival to more eclectic styles will be visited, explored, and discussed.” This is just one way that this course encourages students to pursue the history of paramount movements in architectural history from the 19th to the end of the 20th century.

This year, Karimi and her students will open up their exploratory classroom to the public. With sponsorship from a CVPA Community Engagement Microgrant, a tour will be open to the general public. The tour will run on February 24, 2-4pm, beginning at the Arnold Mansion (aka Wamsutta Club) at 427 County St, New Bedford, MA 02740.

For years, Karimi has used New Bedford as a classroom for learning about architectural history and urbanism. Since 2013 Karimi has organized annual classes focused on proposing design solutions for designated vacant lots and dilapidated buildings in New Bedford. Students do site visits and community consultations, ultimately producing a design that would inspire a positive impact.

A public architectural tour of New Bedford will be open to the public on February 24th, 2022 from 2-4pm. Please contact Pamela Karimi, at pamela.karimi@umassd.edu for more information.