The international style and modernist aesthetics are a western by-product. Nevertheless, it was in the so-called “global south”, or “developing world”, where some of the more radical experiences took place. The recognition of this phenomena has been extensively analysed by scholars, who brought to light the work of Corbusier in India, of Fry and Drew in Ghana, of the Smithsons in Kuwait, or the strength of Brazilian modern architecture. Other scholarship has focused on “regionalisms”, i.e. knowledge transfers from European and American models and their subsequent adaptation to the local conditions of the “tropics”, in particular climate.

However, the possibility of other knowledge exchange and influences have been underestimated. This research on the history of the Department of Tropical Architecture at the AA (1954-71), pointing the development of a highly sophisticated body of expertise, yet marginalized, grounded there. The department received over 500 students from almost 80 countries, creating a truly global, transnational network that has imprinted a considerable influence in the urban landscape of many of the 20th century newly independent countries. Furthermore, it is intended to demonstrate the corpus left by the Department —not only through the still existing DPU at the Bartlett, UCL —, but also through its evolvement with the launch of schools in countries such as Ghana and Costa Rica, its consultancy in worldwide projects, and in pioneering projects such as the Housing Extension Service.

Through it, it is intended to argue the existence of a southern knowledge transfer, able to create the conditions for a transnational and non-European discourse on Tropicality. Furthermore, the aim of this study is to unravel the existence of a post-colonial urban and architectural discourse independent of the former ruling countries.