Recent Efforts in Conserving 20th-Century Heritage: The Getty Conservation Institute\u2019s Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative

Susan Macdonald,Sheridan Burke,Sara Lardinois,Chandler Mccoy

doi:10.1186/bf03545694

Susan Macdonald, Sheridan Burke + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/bf03545694

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Abstract

Over the last 25 years the conservation of 20th-century heritage has developed into a distinct area of practice, catalysed by the efforts of dedicated international and local interest groups and the forward thinking of a number of government and inter-government organisations who identified, protected and developed approaches to its care. Much has been achieved, but more work is needed to address many of the distinct challenges to conserving the heritage of the 20th century. In 2011, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) launched its Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI), which seeks to respond to the outstanding current challenges and contribute to advancing practice in this emerging area of conservation. It began with a survey of the field to identify where existing efforts could be best supported and enhanced, or where knowledge gaps could be potentially filled. In response the GCI built a comprehensive program to meet these identified needs and five years later, a number of activities and projects are underway. These include a series of publications, a training program, historical and technical research and two field projects at Louis Kahn’s Salk Biological Institute (1965) and the house of Ray and Charles Eames (1949), both in California. This paper outlines current GCI efforts, reports on initial outcomes and describes forthcoming activities.

Highlights

Towards the end of the 20th century increasing interest in and appreciation for the architectural and engineering achievements of the era emerged and efforts began to identify those places worthy of protection and conservation
By the turn of the century conserving modern heritage was established as a distinct area of practice with a number of special interest groups, professional organisations and conservation institutions working to advance this cause
Much has been achieved and in most places, there is largely consensus that the heritage of the 20th century is worthy of care and conservation

Summary

Introduction

Towards the end of the 20th century increasing interest in and appreciation for the architectural and engineering achievements of the era emerged and efforts began to identify those places worthy of protection and conservation. Architecture, an important tool in the change of 20th century, experimented with new ways of living and working, utilising innovative constructions techniques, a huge array of new industrialised materials resulting in great changes in the building industry and many new built and urban forms These characteristics of 20th-century architecture and planning give rise to new conservation challenges such as material and technical problems, questions of obsolescence and adaptation, along with the usual conservation issues of managing change inherent in conservation work. To bring together and distribute existing information as well as identify and fill information gaps is needed In response to these challenges, in 2011, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) launched the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI) with the goal of advancing the practice of conserving 20th-century heritage, through research and investigation, the development of practical conservation solutions, and the creation and distribution of information through training programs and publications. Following the Colloquium, the GCI confirmed the goals of its program, organised around six key areas as: 1. Engaging with, and, supporting the profession

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Conclusions