Investigating links between movable and immovable scientific heritage of the nineteenth century at the University of Liège

This contribution presents doctoral research on academic heritage, focusing on the Trasenster Institutes of the University of Liège, constructed between 1880 and 1890. These six buildings were designed to accommodate the evolving pedagogical and scientific practices of the late nineteenth century, notably the increasing emphasis on practical instruction. The institutes were equipped with specialized furniture, scientific instruments, technical infrastructures, and extensive teaching and research collections. Today, these objects are unevenly recognized as movable heritage or collection items and no longer systematically remain within their original architectural context. Instead, they have largely been dispersed across different campuses as a result of historically fragmented management practices. Nevertheless, these objects are essential to understanding the spatial, functional, and technical design of the scientific institutes. The research therefore investigates the interdependencies between buildings and objects and explores ways to make these relationships visible within both the doctoral research and heritage valorisation efforts.