Journal Policies
Editorial Oversight
Architectural Histories cultivates an experienced and diverse editorial team that represents a range of institutions, nationalities, and disciplinary backgrounds related to the study of architectural history. The Editor-in-Chief, assistant editor, general editors, and reviews editors are invited by regular open calls. Editors are sought across a variety of specializations to create subject expertise spanning chronologies, geographies, materialities, and methodologies.
The primary remit of the Editor-in-Chief is to direct the journal’s editorial content, working in collaboration with the broader editorial team. All research articles published in the journal—apart from Special Collections— are based on submissions via the journal website. The initial assessment of submitted articles is always made by the Editor-in-Chief, who decides if they should be passed on to the editorial team for further consideration. If supported by the editorial team, an editor with related expertise will be assigned by the Editor-in-Chief to see the article through peer review, edits, and revisions. Following peer review and subsequent revision, decisions on publication are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editorial team.
The Editor(s) of Special Collections are appointed by the Editor-in-Chief. Special Collections follow the same review process but may be based on direct invitations or thematic open calls, and the articles are guided by their editors, possibly with the oversight of another member of the journal's regular editorial team.
Reviews are solicited and decided on by the Editor-in-Chief in collaboration with the Reviews Editors. The journal does not accept unsolicited reviews submitted via the journal website. Those interested in writing a review are invited to get in touch with the Editor-in-Chief or relevant Reviews Editor.
Other, non-peer reviewed articles and essays are decided on by the Editor-in-Chief.
Peer Review Process
All research articles submitted are assessed initially by the Editor-in-Chief. Those articles selected for further consideration are passed to the editorial team and assessed by one or more members with relevant expertise. If deemed suitable for the journal´s scope, standards, and focus, research articles will pass through at least two double-anonymous peer reviews. The reviewers are always selected by the editorial team based on the reviewers’ records of scholarly expertise pertinent to the article under consideration. The journal does not ask for authors to propose reviewers.
The peer reviewers are asked to evaluate whether the manuscript presents a cogent argument based on original research and/or proposes innovative methodological approaches that contribute new knowledge to the study of architectural history. In addition, reviewers are asked to comment on the article's argumentation, organization, use of primary and secondary sources, and factual correctness. A standardized list of questions is given to reviewers to ensure consistency across reviews, while ample space is also provided for additional commentary, which is strongly encouraged.
Based on the reviewers' recommendations as well as their own evaluation, the editors may accept or reject the article, request revisions, or opt for a third peer review. The decisions on rejection or revisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editor(s) assigned to the article. After a decision has been made, the peer reviews, or a summary thereof, are shared with the author, also in the case of rejection.
According to its double-anonymous peer review policy, Architectural Histories does not publish peer review reports alongside articles or the names of the peer reviewers who have undertaken review of the article. Anonymised peer review data is held securely and privately in the journal’s publishing platform. Double-anonymous peer review is foundational to Architectural Histories' commitment to supporting and publishing the highest quality research from the broadest spectrum of scholars, from early career professionals to established academics, from authors working within academia to independent scholars and those working outside academia.
Other contributions than research articles, including reviews, editorials, field notes and other pieces, do not undergo double-anonymous peer review, but do otherwise go through the scrutiny of the journal´s expert editorial team.
Organisation and Governance
Architectural Histories is owned and managed by the European Architectural History Network (EAHN), a not-for-profit scholarly association established in 2005, registered in France, and funded by registration fees for its conferences and institutional memberships. Individual membership for the EAHN is open and free of charge to all. The network mostly operates in Europe but brings together academics and practitioners from across the world to explore architectural histories from all regions and chronological periods.
EAHN´s Executive Committee is responsible for appointing the Editor-in-Chief for a term of 4 years. The Editor-in-Chief appoints their editorial team, usually consisting of an Assistant Editor, General Editors, and Review Editors, whose terms are also for 4 years. General Editors and Review Editors may serve for more than one term, but not more than two full terms, or 8 years. Both the Editor-in-Chief and the members of the editorial team are usually appointed following open calls in order to encourage inclusivity. The publication and editorial stewardship of potential Special Collections are decided upon by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the broader editorial team.
Architectural Histories does not publish research articles or review books written by members of the EAHN Executive Committee or the journal’s editorial team during their respective terms of service. In those cases where a research article has undergone peer review and been accepted by the time of the editorial or committee appointment, the submission may be seen through to publication. The journal may consider publishing non-peer reviewed contributions by its editors and EAHN committee members.
The Editor-in-Chief reports to the parent organisation on the journal once-a-year at the EAHN’s annual Business Meeting as well as when considered necessary by either the EAHN Executive Committee or the Editor-in-Chief.
The editorial team communicates via a shared interface tracking the articles under consideration and in review, through regular editorial team meetings, and via constant written communications.
The journal´s Advisory Board consists of senior scholars, curators, and other specialists who support the journal and make themselves available to advise on matters related to the journal and its operations. From its founding in 2013 until 2025, the journal had one Advisory Board. From 2025 onwards, the Advisory Board is appointed by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the EAHN Executive Committee for a tenure of 4 years, which may be renewed.
The journal is published by the Open Library of Humanities (OLH), which has supported the publication costs of Architectural Histories since 2018 and formally been its publisher since 2021. Before that, the journal was published by Ubiquity Press. The publisher oversees the integrity and proper conduct of the journal and its policies.
Business Practices
Advertising
Architectural Histories may feature a limited number of paid advertisements on the journal’s website related to publications, events, and services relevant to its field and readers. Decisions on advertisement are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the broader editorial team where necessary and under the oversight of the EAHN Executive Committee. The journal may also feature the logos of the institutional members and sponsors of EAHN on its website. Its editors may engage in soliciting such institutional support for EAHN and advertisement. Advertisement or institutional support to EAHN is not in any way related to editorial decision making and is kept clearly separate from the published content on the journal.
Direct Marketing
Architectural Histories does not conduct any direct marketing.
The publisher, the Open Library of Humanities (OLH), employs a Community Outreach Manager who undertakes general marketing activities for the publisher, including the promotion of its journals. The Community Outreach Manager does not, however, undertake direct marketing for any OLH journals, and this does not affect the editorial decisions of OLH journals in any way.
Other Revenue
Architectural Histories is funded by OLH’s Library Partnership Subsidy Model and by its parent organisation EAHN. OLH covers the publishing and running of the journal on its platform, while EAHN pays for professional copyediting. The editors are not paid.
EAHN generates its revenue through fees paid to participate in its conferences and institutional memberships and sponsorships, while individual membership in EAHN is free of charge and open to all. EAHN may accept donations and grants to support the running of the journal. These streams of revenue do not in any way affect the editorial decisions of the journal.
Preprint Policy
Architectural Histories does not publish preprints of research articles and would usually not consider publishing a research article that has already been published as a preprint.
Conduct and Expected Behaviour
Architectural Histories follows the OLH's comprehensive set of Publication Malpractice policies that outline expected behaviour of the editors, authors, and reviewers of OLH journals.
Data and Reproducibility
Architectural Histories follows the OLH's guidance as outlined in its Ethics Statement concerning data and research integrity.
Consent and Ethical Considerations
The OLH's policy on ethical oversight applies to all of its journals. Architectural Histories adheres to the OLH's publication ethics in all of the journal's editorial endeavours.
Adherence to the Publisher's Policies
Besides the journal’s own editorial policies, Architectural Histories follows the publisher policies of the OLH as well as the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Special Collections
Architectural Histories sometimes publishes Special Collections, whose articles are solicited by guest editors external to the journal's editorial team. Special Collections are published as part of the normal annual issue of the journal and within a separate collection page. The editors of Special Collections work closely with the journal's editorial team and articles published as part of Special Collections go through peer review.
Editors of Special Collections are selected by the Editor-in-Chief or via an open call.
Please visit this page for further information on applying to edit a Special Collection.