Dr Patricia Lara-Betancourt
Faculties, departments and locations
- Kingston School of Art
- Department of Critical and Historical Studies
- School of Creative and Cultural Industries
- Kingston School of Art at Penrhyn Road
Academic, Modern Interiors Research Centre
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
Dr Patricia Lara-Betancourt is a design historian researcher at Kingston University, London, where she is a member of the Modern Interiors Research Centre. Her research explores the intersections of domestic and retailing interiors, material culture, and transnational design histories, with a particular focus on Britain and Latin America in the 19th and 20th centuries.
She completed her PhD at Kingston University in 2009, with a thesis examining middle-class domestic interiors in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain: Conflicting Modernities? Arts and Crafts and Commercial Influences in the Decoration of the Middle-Class Home, 1890–1914. Prior to this, she trained as a historian at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, and earned her MA from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where her dissertation, La Sala Doméstica en Santa Fe de Bogotá, Siglo XIX, traced the evolution of the drawing room in 19th-century Bogotá.
Patricia is member and former co-President (2023–25) of the Historic Interiors Group (HIG), an affiliate of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH).
Her recent publications include:
- Exhibition as Interior. Interior as Exhibition: Spaces of Display Within and Beyond the Museum and Gallery, with P. Sparke, J. Scholze, P. Kirkham, F. Fisher and E. Ioannidou (Bloomsbury, Nov 2025).
- “Complex Interior Spaces in London, 1850–1930: Introduction” (with F. Fisher, V. Kelley, and P. Sparke), The London Journal, Vol. 45, Issue 2, 2020.
- “Locating Design Exchanges in Latin America and the Caribbean,” Journal of Design History, Vol. 32, Issue 1, 2019 (co-edited special issue with L. Rezende).
- “Displaying Dreams: Model Interiors in the London Department Store, 1890–1914,” in Architectures of Display: Department Stores and Modern Retail (Routledge, 2017).
- “Republican Homes: Modern Flows in Domestic Architecture in Santa Fé de Bogotá, 1820–1900,” in Flow: Interior, Landscape and Architecture in the Era of Liquid Modernity (Routledge, 2018).
Qualifications
- PhD Design History
- MA Colombian and Latin American History
- BA (Hons) History
- International Baccalaureate
Domains
Within the field of modern interiors and design history, my research focuses on the themes of modernity, representation and identity.
Publications
Book review of: 'Designing the department store : display and retail at the turn of the twentieth century' by Emily M. Orr
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, 2021, Journal of Design History (34), 3pp 285-287, Published
Complex interior spaces in London, 1850-1930: introduction
Fisher, Fiona, Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Kelley, Victoria and Sparke, Penny, 2020, London Journal (45), 2pp 177-188, Published
Locating design exchanges in Latin America and the Caribbean
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia and Rezende, Livia, 2019, Journal of Design History (32), 1pp 1-16, Published
Book review of: ' The urban department store in America, 1850-1930 ' by Louisa Iarocci
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, 2016, Journal of Design History (29), 4pp 429-431, Published
Seductive discourses: design advice for the home - an introduction
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia and Hardy, Emma, 2014, Interiors: Design, Architecture, Culture (5), 2pp 131-139, Published
Book review of 'Historia del diseno en America Latina y el Caribe: industrializacion y comunicacion visual para la autonomia' by Silvia Fernandez and Gui Bonsiepe (eds.)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, 2011, West 86th (18), 2pp 260-264, Published
La sala domestica en Santa Fe de Bogota. Siglo XIX el decorado: la sala barroca
Lara Betancourt, Patricia, 2000, Historia Critica, 20pp 93-111, Published
La sala domestica en Santa fe de Bogota Siglo XIX: arquitectura domestica: lenguajes colonial y republicano
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, 1998, Memoria y Sociedad (3), 5pp 53-75, Published
La sala domestica en Santafe de Bogota, Siglo XIX el decorado de la sala romantica: gusto europeo y esnobismo
Lara Betancourt, Patricia, 1998, Anuario Colombiano de Historia Social y de la Cultura, 25pp 109-134, Published
Exhibition as interior, interior as exhibition: spaces of display within and beyond the museum and gallery
(2025). UK: [Published]
Locating design exchanges in Latin America and the Caribbean
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia and Rezende, Livia (2019). London, U.K.: (Oxford University Press) [Published]
Flow: interior, landscape, and architecture in the era of liquid modernity
(2018). London, U.K.: [Published]
Architectures of display: department stores and modern retail
(2018). Abingdon, U.K.: (Routledge) [Published]
Seductive discourses: design advice for the home
(2014). London, U.K.: (Taylor & Francis) [Published]
Performance, fashion and the modern interior: from the Victorians to today
(2011). Oxford, U.K.: [Published]
New interior identities: inhabiting London‘s railway stations, winter gardens, people‘s palaces, and department stores, 1830-1920
Sparke, Penny, Fisher, Fiona and Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2023). In: Marinic, Gregory, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.: [Published]
Republican homes: modern flows in domestic architecture in Santa Fe de Bogota, 1820-1900
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2018). In: Sparke, Penny, Brown, Pat, Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Lee, Gini, Taylor, Mark, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 109-119 [Published]
Architectures of display: an introduction
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Lasc, Anca I. and Petty, Margaret Maile (2018). In: Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Lasc, Anca I., Petty, Margaret Maile, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.: Routledgepp 1-14 [Published]
Displaying dreams: model interiors in British department stores, 1890-1914
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2018). In: Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Lasc, Anca, Petty, Margaret Maile, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.: Routledgepp 31-46 [Published]
Ambasz, Emilio (1943-)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, Atkinson, Harriet, Bhagat, Dipti, Kettley, Sarah, O'Brien, Sorcha, Raizman, David, Willis, Anne-Marie, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 37-38 [Published]
Arauz de Pirovano, Celina (1915-2010)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 47-47 [Published]
Baillie Scott, Mackay Hugh (1865-1945)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 120-121 [Published]
Beltran, Felix (1938-)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 158-158 [Published]
Bo Bardi, Lina (1914-1992)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 179-179 [Published]
Bonsiepe, Gui (1934-)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 181-181 [Published]
Cadovius, Poul (1911-2011)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 209-210 [Published]
Campana Brothers: Fernando (1961-) and Humberto (1953-)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 212-212 [Published]
Churba, Alberto (1932-)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 244-245 [Published]
De La Renta, Oscar (1932-2014)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 340-341 [Published]
De Wolfe, Elsie (1865-1950)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 346-347 [Published]
Ferrari-Hardoy, Jorge (1914-1977)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 14-14 [Published]
Garrett, Rhoda (1841-1882) & Agnes (1845-1935)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 71-71 [Published]
Graz, John (1891-1980)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 114-114 [Published]
Laplace, Luis (1969-)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 310-310 [Published]
Maugham, Syrie (1879-1955)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 361-362 [Published]
Porset, Clara (1895-1981)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 71-71 [Published]
Putman, Andrée (1925-2013)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 125-126 [Published]
Rodrigues, Sergio (1927-2014)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 166-167 [Published]
Royére, Jean (1902-1981)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 177-177 [Published]
Tenreiro, Joaquim (1906-1992)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 314-314 [Published]
The quest for modernity: a global/national approach to a history of design in Latin America
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Fallan, Kjetil, Lees-Maffei, Grace, (eds.), Oxford, U.K.: Berghahn Books [Published]
Wanders, Marcel (1963 - )
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2016). In: Edwards, Clive, (eds.), London:pp 404-406 [Published]
Contesting the modernity of domestic space: design reform and the middle class home, 1890-1914
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2013). In: Kilickiran, Didem, Alegria, Christina, Haddrell, Carl, (eds.), Oxford, U.K.: [Published]
Latin America 1830-1900
Kirkham, Patricia, Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Larsen, Christian. A and Perez, Jorge F. Rivas (2013). In: Kirkham, Pat, Weber, Susan, (eds.), New York, U.S.A., New Haven U.S.A. and London, U.K.:pp 456-463 [Published]
Introduction: 1970 - Present
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2011). In: Fisher, Fiona, Lara-Betancourt, Patricia, Keeble, Trevor, Martin, Brenda, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 199-205 [Published]
Semiotica de los objetos: una propuesta de investigacion historica
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (1994). Santafe de Bogota, Colombia: Universidad Nacional de Colombiapp 15-19 [Published]
'Ideas, Temas, Recursos y Métodos para el Estudio del Espacio Interior Doméstico' (Ideas, Themes, Resources and Methodologies in the Study of the Domestic Interior in Mexico)
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia and Arana, Gladys(2015). [Published]
London's West End Department Stores: Whiteleys, Harrods and Waring & Gillows
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2015). [Published]
Perspectivas de Investigacion sobre el Interior Moderno
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2015). [Published]
Visions of design autonomy in Latin America: the work and ideas of Gui Bonsiepe and Victor Papanek.
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2015). [Published]
De puertas abiertas: interiores y cultura material de la vivienda latinoamericana. [Open doors: domestic interiors and material culture in Latin America]
Arana López, Gladys Noemí and Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2015). [Published]
European or national? Latin American domestic interiors, 1870-1930
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2015). [Published]
Making autonomy: Design, material and visual culture in Latin America
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia and Rezende, Livia(2015). [Published]
Displaying dreams: model interiors in the London store, 1890-1914
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2014). [Published]
Nuevas perspectivas de investigacion sobre el diseno de interiores [A discussion of recent historical research on the designed interior]
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2013). [Published]
What boundaries? Design history in Latin America
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2013). [Published]
Advice literature as design reform discourse
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2013). [Published]
'Contesting the modernity of domestic space: Arts & Crafts and commercial influences in the furnishing and decoration of the British middle-Class home, 1890-1914'
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia(2012). [Published]
Conflicting modernities? Arts and crafts and commercial influences in the decoration of the middle-class home 1890-1914
Lara-Betancourt, Patricia (2008), PhD thesis [Accepted/In press]