Martin Søberg

Curriculum vitae

Martin Søberg is an architectural historian specialising in modern and contemporary architecture, with a particular focus on the relationship between work and idea.

His research covers architectural theory, artistic development and poetics, among other things. He is interested in architects’ theoretical and other discursive work and how it relates to the meaning of architecture in both built and imaginary form, for example in housing. His research examines the relationship between architecture and different life forms, including the significance of children and animals in modern architecture, particularly as symbolic figures. He has also worked with image theory and forms of representation in architecture, especially drawing as a central medium in architectural production and discourse.

Martin Søberg is author of the research-based books Himmelstykker: Dansk kirkearkitektur i det 20. århundrede (Strandberg Publishing, 2025) and Kay Fisker: Works and Ideas in Danish Modern Architecture (Bloomsbury, 2021) translated into Danish as Kay Fisker: Moderne arkitektur – levende tradition (Strandberg Publishing, 2023) and has published articles in various books and journals. He is co-editor of several books including Architectures of Dismantling and Restructuring: Spaces of Danish Welfare, 1970–Present (Lars Müller Publishers, 2022), The Artful Plan: Architectural Drawing Reconfigured (Birkhäuser, 2020), and What Images Do (Aarhus University Press, 2019). 

He is chair of Docomomo Denmark and vice-chair of the Danish Association of Art Historians.

Employment

2026– Head of the PhD School, Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation.

2020– Associate Professor, Institute of Architecture and Culture, Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation.

2016–2020 Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, KADK.

2015–2016 Teaching Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, KADK.

2015 External Lecturer, Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen.

2014-2017 External Lecturer, Art History, Department of Arts and Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen.

2013-2015 Research Assistant, Lecturer, School of Architecture, KADK.

2013 Research Assistant, Lecturer, Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen.

2010 Research Assistant, School of Architecture, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

2007-2009 Head of Communications, SLA Architects.

2006-2007 Communication and Research Employee, SLA Architects.

Education

2023 Course in PhD Education, Royal Danish Academy.

2022 Research Management Course, CBS Executive Fonden.

2017 Professional Postgraduate Teacher Training, Aarhus University.

2014 PhD, School of Architecture, KADK. Dissertation: The Oscillating Sketch.

2011 Visiting Scholar, GSAPP, Columbia University, New York City, USA, sponsored by Professor Kenneth Frampton.

2010 Bildpraktiken, eikones Summer School, NFS Bildkritik, Basel, Switzerland.

2008 Re-Inventing RDM, 4^th International Architecture Summer School, Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Urban Design, Netherlands.

2006 Mag.art. in Art History, University of Copenhagen. Thesis: Affekt og forskydning: Mies van der Rohes arkitektur i nutidigt kunstfotografi.

2002 BA in Art History with an elective module in Economics, University of Copenhagen.