News and Information — Docomomo

News and Information

2010 docomomo ISC Registers niques were developed as the expression of its utili- Seminar in Gijón tarian needs as well as of materials that had recently The Factory, The Paradigm Of Modernity become available. Poets devoted many hours to its interpretation, while painters and sculptors modeled Date: 14–17 April 2010 forms and used hitherto unknown expressive resources Location: Gijón, Spain in an attempt to decipher the symbolism of technology.

— docomomo The fascination that the factory generated has Objective reached the present day. Its past splendor, now largely reduced to ruins, continues to attract our eye: having he aim of the International Seminar is to reflect on become thoroughly obsolete, factories nonetheless tell Tthe influence of technology on the emergence of us not only of our past but also of some of the most modern–movement architecture and on the new view meaningful concerns of our present. We project our that would lead to change in the interpretations of all gaze onto their ruins with deep nostalgia, melancholy artistic experiences. and uncertainty, to the point where we are prepared to prolong their existence beyond their original use, now expired, to discover their new possibilities as leisure and cultural premises. Reflect on your past reality and its potential for the future is thus the goal of the convening of this Interna- tional Seminar. To order the Seminar, specifying the intent of lectures and conferences and taking into account the place of its conclusion, it is proposed to orga- nize the whole of the work from a sectoral perspective. These take into account not only individual buildings but also its territorial integration, an issue that we con- sider crucial in order to assess both its architectural merits as intervention operations on them can be made. In this sense, we propose to confine the work, in addition to general reflections on, two specific productive 114 sectors: coal–steel and Energy (thermal and hydro).

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) initiated a line of thought which was inevitably destined to develop: that of the world of science as the object of philosophical 2010 docomomo ISC Technology reflection. At the same time, scientific and technical Seminar in Tokyo progress would consolidate, in practice, a new change in the interpretative values of Western culture. Metal in Modern Movement In opposition to the world of nature that of the de- Date: 14–16 May 2010 vice would become consolidated, governed by the Location: Tokyo, Japan laws of technology, which would develop fully inside new architectural artifacts practically unknown until the Objective nineteenth century. The factory, as a new architectural type, had come into being. he Technology Seminar held in Tokyo, Japan, fo- It would be in the factory, as a new expression of Tcused on the use of Metal in Modern Movement construction, that architecture developed one of the architecture. In particular, the docomomo Interna- most specific manifestations of modernity, quickly trav- tional Specialist Committee on Technology (ISC–T) elling the distance that separated the steam engine collaborated with the National Specialist Committee from full industrialization. (NSC) in Japan to focus on a seminar that discussed And not only architects, but also painters, sculptors, the use of metal and steel structures in Modern Move- photographers and composers found in the world of ment Architecture. In particular, presentation of topics technology and its container, the factory, a motive of which focused on the repair methods, skills and crafts- inspiration and reflection on the scope of their respec- manship towards the conservation of these structures tive artistic experiences. The film world, too, became was encouraged. It is important to note that metal trapped by its irrepressible lure, as Charles Chaplin and steel have also been used in Japan as a material ironically expressed in “Modern Times”. which responds well to seismic events while simultane- In the construction of the factory new building tech- ously forming a unique construction that is part of the

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doco42—100/136.indd 114 29/07/10 18:02 projects submitted. Chaired by docomomo Presi- dent Ana Tostões, the jury also included UIA President Louise Cox, Director of the Grand Paris international workshop Bertrand Lemoine, Director of the UMR 694 MAP–Gamsau lab at the CNRS Michel Florenzano, and Director of the Autodesk product Laurent Praden. A UIA grand prize was awarded to Salvatore Corso, student at the Aldo Rossi faculty of architecture in Bo- logna, Italy, for the image based model of Casa del Balilla, in Forli, Italy, built between 1933 and 1935 by architect Cesare Valle. His representation is an accu- rate reproduction of the original architectural vocabu- lary of this edifice in danger. modern experience. On the basis of this background, A docomomo prize was attributed to Alexandre we were able to have a lively discussion on the use of Van Dongen–Vogels, student at the Superior Institute Metal in Modern Movement Architecture from all over of Architecture in La Cambre, Belgium, for the image the world! based model of the Brussels–Ukkel Glass House, built docomomo International is a non–profit organiza- in 1935 by Paul–Amaury Michel. The jury applauded tion initiated in 1988 by professor, architect Hubert–Jan the quality and coherence of his model. Henket, and architect Wessel de Jonge. The primary An honourable mention was awarded to a role of docomomo International is to educate and group of students led by Daniele Rossi from Italy’s exchange ideas relating to the documentation, history Camerino University for their image based model of a and technology of conservation, for the protection and set of social facilities built during the fascist period in safeguard of modern movement heritage. As one of the various Italian cities. five working specialist committees dedicated to this mis- A UIA grand prize together with a docomomo sion, the docomomo International Specialist Commit- prize were awarded to Fabio Freitas, Jonas Abreu da tee on Technology was organized in 2000. In a joint Silva and Olivier Lauppi from the Federal University at effort and close collaboration, the national chapter of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the description in panoramic images of the Rio Modern Art Museum built in 1954 by docomomo Japan NSC Technology hosted an inter- 115 national seminar on the use of Metal in Modern Move- Affonso Eduardo Reidy. This project received the jury’s ment architecture in Tokyo, Japan. unanimous praise for its understanding and reading of spaces and volumes and for the visual restitution of the entire architectural complex. Three honourable mentions were awarded to panoramic image descriptions: International Competition for Image — Modelling • Chenyuan Qian, (Tianjin University, China), for the of XX Century Architecture restoration of the Juer hutongs in Beijing. • Xin Ma and Xiaoyu Lang, (Tianjin University, China) The Jury: Louise Cox, UIA President — Ana Tostões, for Tiananmen Square in Beijing. docomomo International Chair — Laurent Praden, Au- • Yuriy Kuvshinov and Anastasia Marukhna (Moscow todesk — Bertrand Lemoine, Direction du Grand Paris Institute of Architecture, Russia) for their reproduc- (GNP) — Michel Florenzano, MAP Laboratory (CNRS) tion of the Narkomfin collective housing complex built between 1928 and 1930 in Moscow by Moi- A New Representation of the Architectural Heritage sei Ginzburg. he International Union of Architects (UIA) announc- Tes the results of the international competition inviting architecture students to create image based models of significant works of the 20th century from around the world. Students could choose to represent any architectural realisation built between 1901 and 2000. Their architectural descriptions could be designed as panoramic images or image based models of the building in its current state. The jury met on 17 June 2010, to examine the 52

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redefine its tasks and duties to improve, docomomo expand and update the docomomo documentation in the years to come. International Specialist The ISC/R archives are and should Committees remain in the Nai, Rotterdam (NL).

— docomomo The ISC/R reorganization Panayotis Tournikiotis and Marieke Kuipers are willing to continue as chair International Specialist The ISC/R definitely needs a part–time and vice–chair in 2010–2012. Susana Committee on Registers (ISC/R) permanent secretary and/or web man- Landrove is ready to act as secretary Annual meeting ISC/Registers, ager in the docomomo International during the same period. Other members Oviedo (Spain), April 18, 2010 headquarters to coordinate the process will continue, with the only exception of of publishing the fiches on the web. Inge Bertels who is stepping down as fter the 4th International registers During this meeting, we have also secretary and leaves the committee. To Aseminar The Factory, Paradigm of reviewed the whole work done in the our deep regret, Dennis Sharp has sadly Modernity, organized by docomomo ISC/R till 2010 and the future plans with left the ISC/R. He has passed away on Iberia in the Faculty of Geology, Univer- regard to the MoMo registers. In its first the 6th of May. He has been a com- sity of Oviedo, April 14–17, 2010. period (1992–2000) the docomomo mitted member of the committee and we Three ISC/R members attended the ISC/R has focused on the necessary will all miss him as a good friend. annual meeting: Panayotis Tournikiotis, International selection of MoMo build- Meanwhile, both chairs come to the chair, Marieke Kuipers, vice–chair, Su- ings that culminated in the publication conclusion that they are not young any- sana Landrove, director of docomo- of the ‘black book’ in 2000. Maristella more and that they are increasingly busy mo Iberia. Celestino Garcia Braña was Casciato was chair, Marieke Kuipers in many others tasks. In their view, the excused and left Oviedo the day before. was secretary and the book published ISC/R needs new and committed mem- Inge Bertels, secretary could not come in Rotterdam by 010 was edited by Den- bers to take over the responsibility of the and has informed the committee that nis Sharp and Catherine Cooke. Registers and to redefine the goals of she is willing to step down in Mexico. In its second period (2002–2010), the DO of docomomo: MoMo docu- We would like to thank her for all her the ISC/R has focused on thematically mentation. 116 work. All other members could not come organized documentation and en- Therefore, the ISC/R invites doco- for various reasons. The saddest reason couraged national and international momo members to apply for joining was that Dennis Sharp could not join us seminars and publications related to the committee in 2010 and to be in- for serious health problems. bi–annual and international conference volved in the reorganization process. We have first reviewed the fiches of themes. The themes of this period have Panayotis Tournikiotis and Marieke the 2009–2010 thematic selection on been thus far: the Modern House, Edu- Kuipers are ready to act in 2012–2014 Power that will be presented in Mexico. cation, Industry, Sports, Import/Export, as co–chairs to a new chair that will be Argentina, Austria, Germany, Japan, Post–war architecture, Other Modern- elected in 2012, to help the reorganiza- Mexico, Slovakia, Slovenia, UK and isms and Power. tion process but they will definitely step USA did submit the whole set; Nether- With the addition of ‘health’ to this down in 2014 leaving the committee to lands, Iberia and Greece only one part, documentation series, we will close a the next generation. the rest is under way. We will encourage critical circle that will well describe the all other working parties to submit their MoMo architecture in terms of concep- Panayotis Tournikiotis, Chair selection before the Mexico conference tual typology and understanding in- Marieke Kuipers, Vice–Chair and remind all of them that they should novation. Therefore, Health will be the Inge Bertels, Secretary also present their selection on a poster. theme to be proposed in Mexico for the docomomo ISC/R The meeting in Oviedo was necessar- 2011–2012 registers’ selection. But this ily short and so we could not undertake will be the last turn in the cycle of the- a thorough examination of these fiches. matic documentation. We foresee that International Specialist This is raising again the hard work that there should follow in 2012–2014 a two Committee on needs to be done to review and edit years’ period of rethinking, updating, dis- Technology (ISC/T) fiches before putting them on the web- closing and reorganizing the collective July 2010 Report site. The whole process will no longer work that has been done since 2000, be possible in the years to come, with in the form of publications and compre- ver the past two years, the do- the only help from the volunteering mem- hensive websites from every working Ocomomo International Special- bers of the committee, who are scientifi- party and docomomo International. ist Committee on Technology (ISC/T) cally responsible. During the same period the ISC/R has to has carried out two seminars since the

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doco42—100/136.indd 116 29/07/10 18:02 ISC/R International Seminar, Oviedo, 14-18 April 2010 Exhibition “La arquitectura de la industria, 1925-1965. Registro docomomo Ibérico” Geology Faculty at the Oviedo University by architect Ignacio Álvarez Castelao Sculptures by Rubio Camín and mosaics and stained-glass by Antonio Suárez

conference Challenge of Change in Rot- terdam, the Netherlands in 2008. The seminar entitled, Concrete — Conserva- tion Challenges, was held in Wroclaw, Poland in October 2009 and a second seminar, Metal in Modern Movement, was held in recently in Tokyo, Japan in May 2010. Each seminar was well starting with the docomomo Interna- terial research and case studies, so that attended with more than 100 people tional Conference in Mexico City 2010. the greater body of work by the com- which included international partici- As we examine the past, technology mittee can be used to focus on current pants and a good number of local par- was key element of the modern move- relevant and conservation strategies for ticipants from docomomo Poland and ment. Innovation has posed possibilities practitioners. If we are to prolong and docomomo Japan. to give form to new buildings which sustain the life of Modern Movement Based on discussions from these utilized building crafts representative of buildings then, we must also learn how two seminars, the ISC/T has been in different geographic regions from the past technologies were used in a way the process of formulating a proposal modern movement. Various perspectives that be balanced with the regeneration for a strategy and perspective for the can be identified in the construction of of this heritage for the future. After all, it is ISC/Technology in the future. The docu- the past and now and, as practitioners through the past research on how tech- 117 ment entitled, Matter and Time, includes and educators, we must identify how nology evolved and was utilized which some of these discussions to date and conservation interventions can provide should enable us on how to maintain has been circulated among docomo- solutions to maintain the technology used and renew architecture of the Modern mo ISC/T members. The document will to construct buildings of the Modern Movement using comparable technolo- be a source for continued discussion at Movement. If we can identify the skills gies of this era which can improve upon the next ISC/T meeting to be held at the and innovation which were used to con- the prior innovation. conference Living the Modern Urbanity struct buildings during modern movement, The ISC/T proposes to continue to in Mexico City, August 2010. how do we also now allow and account build upon the past solid foundation for change over time of these buildings and work of the committee. The ISC/T Matter and Time — Perspective of and the continued use of their systems? will turn to practical and rigorous discus- Technology The committee has focused on build- sions that relate to the construction of the During the ISC/T meeting in the ing physics and building craft to explore buildings from the past. Our discussion Centennial Hall in Wroclaw (2009), a many underlying and pedagogical of technology in the Modern Movement debate was raised about the bearing philosophies which relate to the incep- architecture will be more than just a his- of recent topics related to Technology tion of building design and construction. toric account — the committee will active- and the Modern Movement. Ivo Ham- Often, we also ponder architecture as ly engage and expand broader interests mer from Austria raised questions about a social and educational framework with the working parties and specialist the meaning of technology within the and, over the years, the work of ISC/T committees of docomomo. committee and Mariël Polman from the has maintained exploration of unique Some of the questions which ISC/T Netherlands requested that a general historical perspectives which focus on proposes to raise and address: discussion on the meaning of technol- the evolution of technology and the ogy take place within the committee to applied innovation within the Modern • What is the significance of Modern address more questions by the commit- Movement. However, while there is a Movement, as Time, Matter and Idea. tee. As well, questions were raised in historic importance in documenting the • What does the practice/hands on Tokyo, Japan (2010) about setting an evolution of technology, there should be work with material/technology mean agenda and strategy for the committee a continued emphasis on additional ma- to the committee?

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doco42—100/136.indd 117 29/07/10 18:02 • How do we discover, document and International Specialist It also involved coping with sharply dif- relate to conservation when it comes Committee on Urbanism + fering procedures in the two national to technology of Modern Movement? Landscape (ISC/U+L) institutions. Since September 2009, a • How do we successfully document The activities of the ISC U+L were website to disseminate the information the evolution of technology? reviewed at the 2009 annual meeting, (www.towerblock.org) has been set up • How is the experience of matter and held at Edinburgh College of Art on in skeleton form, and several hundred idea for the architect/conservator Wednesday 16 September. sites created, amounting to a significant shared as common interest? regional database of mass housing in • How do we engage these questions hese members attended the annual eastern Scotland and northern England. and others at meetings among ISC/T Tmeeting: Miles Glendinning, chair; docomomo members are invited to members, how can we develop a fo- Ola Uduku; Diane Watters; Jan Hae- take a look at the pilot website. rum for broader discussion of these nraets; Jessica Taylor; Ellen Creighton; The Tower Block survey points to sev- issues within the context of upcoming apologies, Hannah Lewi. eral future possibilities for docomomo coming seminars, and potentially the This report presents an updated di- U + L. Firstly, it might itself act as a digital Journal. gest of that material, revised to take ac- pilot inventorisation project to follow Jes- • How does the ISC/T take a more account of subsequent developments. sica’s manual pilot project. Secondly, it tive part in further analysis and study Pilot Fiches/New Town Inventorisa- might open up the way to a wider inter- of materials and technology — how tion project national survey of mass housing (see (c) can we also apply our base knowl- This project was carried out by Jes- below). edge to broaden our commitment sica Taylor, who reported on it at the Potential international survey of mass when it comes to advocacy of the meeting. The area/sub–area fiches, to- housing, and associated contacts in committee. talling some 200, had been completed Hong Kong and Singapore on forma- • How do we cooperate with other and were awaiting editing. Jessica felt tion of docomomo working parties NGO organisations? that the project had showed the limits of Initial moves are underway to put a manual system: any further detail (eg together an international survey of In 2010, the ISC/T proposes a seminar integrated mapping) would require a mass housing under the auspices of the to take place in The Alvar Aalto library digital format. Committee. Research could be carried in Vyborg in 2011. This seminar will fo- Suggestions in the follow–up discus- forward aided by a research grant, or cus on case studies related to analytical sion included: (1) inclusion of informa- using volunteer researchers within do- 118 studies on the conservation of the library tion on threat should be a priority in any comomo national groups. As part and other relevant examples. The ISC/T enhancement; (2) choices might have of preliminary research for this project, committee meeting also proposes a to be made between record– and con- Miles had gone on trips to a variety of second meeting in 2011 in Brno, Czech servation–orientated inventorisation; (3) mass housing centres, including Hong Republic which will continue previous the links with North Lanarkshire Council Kong, Singapore, Warsaw, Copenha- discussions on Materiality and what it for ECA’s Area Conservation module gen, and Riga (on a lightning day trip means to discuss developing perspec- (studying Cumbernauld) could allow from London, hosted by Janis Krastins), tives through relevant conservation heritage–management and policy impli- to begin establishing the viability of col- projects in progress. Dates and further cations to be tested out. laborative research and field recording information will follow in short. Pilot ‘Tower Block’ project on on–line for such a project. The ISC/T is also considering addi- inventorisation and website on mass Discussions are underway with tional publications, as proposed by com- housing EAHN (European Architectural History mittee member Jos Tomlow, to develop The ‘Tower Block’ project (supported Network) with a view to collaboration a Handbook on Technology. The details by English Heritage), carried out in May– on this subject, possibly focusing on an of the publication will be presented in December 2009 with Ellen Creighton as ‘East/West’ or ‘cold war’ analysis of further detail at the upcoming Mexico researcher, was intended as a possible mass housing, and with a view to hold- City conference and will be based on template for a digital–based extension ing a conference in 2011. the nearly two hundred papers present- of Jessica’s manual survey: Ellen gave As part of his mass housing research ed in previous docomomo technolo- the meeting an extensive demonstration contacts, Miles had established contact gy seminars over the past two decades. of the system in action from her wireless with potential docomomo groups in laptop. Linked directly to the national China (Shanghai), Hong Kong/Ma- Respectfully submitted, English and Scottish archive systems, it cao and Singapore; these were being involved building up a complex map– followed up and (as at July 2010) the Ola Wedebrunn Chair, based (GIS) database on post–1945 China–Shanghai group seemed likely to Kyle Normandin, Secretary mass housing in Scotland and Northern put in a formal proposal at the Mexico docomomo ISC/T England, including scanned images of conference. hundreds of sites, and statistical data. Conferences: South City conference

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doco42—100/136.indd 118 29/07/10 18:02 in Edinburgh, 22/23 January 2009, modernist cities globally. called (Un)loved Modern — with some and Mirror of Modernity, 1–2 May At the September meeting, Miles specifically urban and landscape ses- 2009 suggested that new planned towns and sions. Details would be uploaded to The South City ISC/U + L Conference cities might make a very straightforward the Icomos Australia site shortly: http:// on Southern Hemisphere Modernism, and valuable ISC U+L ‘homework’ task www.aicomos.com/ held at the University of Edinburgh on in a future year (Hannah Lewi had January 22–23 2009, had been very asked him to emphasize at this meeting Miles Glendinning, Chair successful and an e–journal of the pro- the suggestion that ISC U+L might begin docomomo ISC/U+L ceedings had just been put together by contributing to the setting of docomo- the docomomo Secretariat. Likewise, mo International homework tasks in the e–proceedings were published for the future). International Specialist joint ISC/U + L and AHSS conference, Committee on Mirror of Modernity, on 1–2 May Interim review of Plan of Action Education+Theory (ISC/E+T) 2009: the conference had, in effect, bal- 2008–2010 3rd International docomomo anced the docomomo U + L agenda At the September 2009 meeting, it Workshop: Living the Urban of a synthesizing international overview was agreed that the 2008–10 Plan Modernity, Mexico City with a national case–study drawn from of Action had been effectively imple- Scotland. mented. The following emphases were he third workshop will take place at At the South City conference, Ola agreed for 2010–12: Tthe Luis Barragan’s Ateliers in Mexico Uduku inaugurated a new ‘docomo- Tower Block Project should be devel- in August 2010, during the 11th docomo South’ forum to help proselytize oped into a Stage 2 (Digital) Pilot Proj- momo conference. docomomo activities in developing ect on inventorisation for ISC/U + L countries where experts might find the Further progress on setting up the in- The aim of this workshop is to explore costs of attending regular docomo- ternational survey of public housing an urban sector of Mexico City that mo conferences excessive. Subsequent Further contacts with China, Hong emerged in the city expansion of the to September 2009, Ola attended the Kong and Singapore aimed at stimulat- 20th Century. The consolidation of this Archiafrika/African Perspectives confer- ing the setting–up of new docomomo neighborhood began in the 30s and it ence and ‘spread the word’ further. working parties. is a hub of the emerging Modern Move- Landscape policy review and inter- Proposed landscape policy review ment in Mexico City. Originally facing national cross–comparisons (including (Jan) and joint study on Chandigarh and a semi circular park, several buildings 119 Chandigarh links) other new cities (Jan, Parmeet) designed by Augusto H. Alvarez, Luis Jan Haenraets’s Ph.D on MoMo Miscellaneous matters reported at Barragan, Max Cetto and Enrique del landscape policy was successfully the September 2009 meeting: Moral, form an architectural ensemble completed and passed in spring 2010, Miles reported the recent contact of high quality and great value. Unfor- following which Jan now intends to pro- from committee member Ahmed el– tunately, the sector was hit in the 60s by ceed with a planned review of interna- Hariri regarding the forthcoming Aga- the intrusion of an over–pass; the park tional MoMo landscape conservation dir conference in February 2010: the was sectioned and the distinctive urban policy for U + L. He reported at the committee agreed that all possible help façade suffered this intrusion. The work- September 2009 meeting that he had should be offered, including publicity, shop will be focused on searching and travelled to India and linked up with and help with any follow–up publication. creating alternatives for the recovery of committee member Parmeet Bhatt at Miles also reported on the highly suc- the urban quality and accessibility of the Chandigarh. Following a tour of Chandi- cessful concluding conference, Keeping site, with the idea of the creation of do- garh, Jan and Parmeet felt there was def- the Past Public, that he had attended in comomo Mexico headquarters and a inite scope for collaboration, especially Melbourne in February. Partly under a Museum of Mexican Modern Architec- linking up with Parmeet’s research into docomomo umbrella, it had synthe- ture. how change had affected the Chan- sized the results of a highly diverse na- digarh master plan. Other committee tionwide inventory of public buildings. Ricardo Pita, Chair members agreed with Jan that important Miles also passed on a message Theodore Prudon, Professor links between landscapes and urbanism from Hannah Lewi that there will be a Alejandro Ochoa and Rodolfo Santa could be drawn from the experience planned special issue of the Journal María, Coordinators of Chandigarh and other modernist of Architecture, UK coming out of that Mexico 2010 Conference Workshop planned cities. This might be the basis event on the subject of conserving and of a funded research project or a PhD documenting public modern places, in docomomo ISC/E+T research topic; it might also develop into 2010. Hannah had also informed Miles an area of interest for an International of a joint docomomo/Icomos Austra- specialist community looking at other lia conference run in Sydney recently

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