I am an historian and theorist of modern architecture and design. Standardization has been my primary research interest for the last seven years. I have published essays on the genesis of standard paper formats (DIN 476) as well as the rise of various methods of dimensional coordination (DIN 4171, DIN 4172). I have written about Ernst Neufert and the importance of the Bauentwurfslehre to the "standardization of standardization." For the purposes of my stay in Weimar, I am producing an intellectual and social history of the Finnish Standardization Office. Alvar Aalto and Ernst Neufert partnered in creating this entity, and it raises questions about architecture, infrastructure, and power in the context of my research. I have spent my time this summer researching the scope and depth of Aalto's collaboration with the Nazis. I have also been studying the functions and needs that the Finnish Standardization Office served, not just in Finland but also in Germany.
 
I am deeply grateful to my host, Prof. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Meier, for allowing me the opportunity to pursue this project in Weimar. I am also thankful to the DAAD for funding my stay. The faculty and staff at the Bauhaus University have been incredibly generous with their time and expertise. I have also enjoyed the beauty of this city and the hospitality and warmth of the many people I have met.