The past and the present, theory and practice have been the cornerstones and frame of reference for the Institute addressing architecture in all its historical depth and ideological breadth, and to systematically reflecting upon it. The gta Institute has always endeavoured to examine the efficacy and aptitude of the models it applies and to reap their benefits for contemporary architecture. At the institute, the topics of research and teaching are the historiography of architecture, the forms and techniques of construction, the functions of architecture and its relationship to society and politics, the development of design and architectonic discourse from earliest times to the present day, and methods of architectural-historical study, from building analysis through to the digital humanities. The gta Institute plays a mediating role in the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) inasmuch as it serves the increasingly specialised fields of architectural knowledge as a central hub. Thus it is broadly represented in the D-ARCH curriculum – from knowledge-oriented lectures at bachelor’s and master’s degree level, to specialised lectures or seminars, to integrated design courses.