BookNews Reviews and Information Modern City” conducted by Catherine Ettinger; docomomo Conference “Temporality and Transformation” conducted by Emi- lie d’Orgeix; “City and Nature” conducted by Louise Mexico 2010: “Living in the Noelle Gras; and “The Modern City from a Contem- porary Perspective” conducted by Gabriela Lee. Urban Modernity” The essence of the Modern Movement, based on — docomomo material and technological innovations, is also the By Louise Noelle origin of docomomo’s discussions on philosophical and physical conservation challenges. The theme “Technology for a Modern Habitat”, approached HE 11th docomomo International Conference the conference’s theme: living in urban modernity. theoretical and practical aspects regarding building Ttook place in Mexico City from the 19th to the The formal presentation counted with the participa- protection and preservation. It was divided into two 27th August 2010, under the title “Living in the Ur- tion of Consuelo Sáizar, President of the Consejo Na- sessions: “Conservation Issues for the Modern Hab- ban Modernity”, allowing participants to analyze cional para la Cultura y las Artes; José Narro Robles, itat” organized by Susan MacDonald; and “Building the issues that transformed the city and its archi- Rector of the UNAM; Louise Cox, President of the Climates and System Analysis for Modern Habitat” tecture during the first part of the 20th Century. International Union of Architects; and Lisandro organized by Kyle Normandin. Urban area growth brought up an environment that de la Garza, President of the Federación de Arqui- The Campus of the UNAM Ciudad Universitaria, favored the presence of Modern Architecture, in tectos de la República Mexicana. docomomo was declared World Heritage Site, also offered the op- which new materials and developing techniques represented by Ana Tostões, Louise Noelle Gras and portunity to introduce a fifth theme, that of Univer- took new forms. Likewise, and in relation to work- Sara Topelson de Grinberg. Mauricio Rivero Borrel, sity Campus, significant to most countries not only ing and leisure spaces, social changes had a visible Vice–President of UIA; Sergio Alcocer Martínez del because of the intrinsic architecture and art issues, transformation influence over education, health, Campo, Secretary General of the UNAM; the direc- but also because they have been the melting pot of hygiene and housing. In order to explore and to tors of the architecture faculties that participated education and knowledge that have allowed a spe- analyze the different elements that transformed the in the organization of the event and other leaders cific academic richness. These ideas were studied city and its architecture, a workshop was organized of architectural institutions also took part in this in two sessions: “Evolution and University” leaded and the Conference was divided into five subjects opening event. by Janneke Bierman; and “The University and the developed in fifteen sessions and five round tables. The first theme, “Modern Living” referred to the City” leaded by Eduardo Luis Rodríguez. Three Master Conferences by Barry Bergdoll, Víctor relevance of modern society multi–family dwell- The round–table debates counted with a large Pérez Escolano and Ricardo Legorreta, which dealt ings and how organization was the instrument that number of participants that made them very inter- 86 with interesting contributions on modernity, also sought solutions to the incipient proletariat and esting: “Architectural Magazines, Documental Foun- took place. the developing middle class. Four sessions were dation for Modern Heritage”, coordinated by Patricia The Workshop took place between the 19th and introduced: “Housing as a state affair” conducted Méndez; “Movie Theatres, Modern Heritage to be 24th August at Casa Barragán Ateliers in Tacubaya, by Henrietta Moravcikova; “Cultural liberation and Rescued” coordinated by Alejandro Ochoa Vega; a Modern Movement privileged and stimulating en- architectural diversification”, conducted by Carlos “Brasilia: Limits of the Urban Project” coordinated by vironment, fostered by the Universidad Autónoma Eduardo Comas; “Images of modern living” conduct- Carlos Eduardo Comas and Silvia Ficher; and “Mod- Metropolitana. The tasks were coordinated by ed by Raquel Franklin; and “Modernity and tradition” ern Movement Architecture in Sub–Saharan Africa” professors Alejandro Ochoa, Ricardo Pita and conducted by Manuel Berumen. coordinated by Ana Tostões. A fifth round–table on Rodolfo Santa María from UAM—Xochimilco, with The importance of the “Civic and Social Infra- the fundamental issue “Architectural Practice and the participation of Theodore Prudon, Jorge Sán- structure”, considered an essential consequence of Conservation” took place in the main auditorium chez Antuñano, Mariano Arias and Miguel Ángel modernity, allowed an appreciation of the different and was organized by Hubert–Jan Henket with the Ronquillo. Roberto Eibenschuz, Louise Noelle and circumstances in which modern buildings were participation of Maija Kairamo, Wessel de Jonge, Óscar Terrazas presented conferences on urban built. Together with social, political and economical Gabriel Mérigo and Theodore Prudon. and architectural issues. The twenty—student issues, also ideological and urban project signifi- Regarding the diffusion of the 11th doco- group was divided in four teams in order to elabo- cance was discussed in three sessions: “Conserva- momo International Conference Minutes, a rate conservation and adaptation proposals for tion and Design Issues” coordinated by Maristella summary of the Papers which had been presented the Melchor Ocampo Square urban space which Casciato; “Urban Scales” coordinated by Horacio was edited. A DVD with the complete papers and preserves buildings by distinguished architects of Torrent; and “Education and Recreation” coordi- posters presented at the round–tables, together the Modern Movement such as Augusto H. Álvarez, nated by Gustavo Luis Moré. with the coordinator’s presentations, was given to Luis Barragán, Max Cetto, José Creixel and Enrique The third theme analyzed the triumphs and the participants at the end of the Conference. The del Moral. failures of urban modernity, considering both archi- International Specialist Committees on Registers, The inauguration of the Conference took place tecture and planning: “The Modern City”. The ideal Technology, Urbanism and Landscape, and Educa- at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia on the 24th city design, where progress and technology were tion and Theory have organized working sessions August and the events development took place at the main statements, and the unbounded growth of with their representatives and their conclusions the Ciudad Universitaria of the Universidad Nacional some metropolis in this process, gave back answers were presented at the Council Meeting. Autónoma de México, two Modern Movement em- based on a desire for welfare which was present Guided visits around the Ciudad Universitaria, blematic works which gave a particular meaning to in the four sessions that took place: “Planning the declared World Heritage Site in 2007 by UNESCO, docomomo 43 — 2010/2 were also offered to participants during the three Anahuac del Norte. We also counted with the gener- Santa María regarding the Workshop; Juan Ignacio days of the congress as well as the four Docotours ous organizing participation of the Consejo Nacio- del Cueto, Lourdes Díaz, Raquel Franklin and Cath- that took place after the congress. The latter were nal para la Cultura y las Artes and the Gobierno del erine Ettinger, together with María García Holley, coordinated by Juan Ignacio del Cueto, who person- Distrito Federal through Seduvi. Many people volun- in the Secretariat; Jordi Messeguer Gally with the ally guided the three visits to works by Félix Candela, tarily collaborated in the academic part of the event, organization; Gabriela Gutiérrez Saucedo with the Juan O´Gorman, Mathias Goeritz and Enrique de la including foreign members of the Scientific Commit- accounts and register; Claude Constant as the com- Mora, and other dwelling projects, together with tee: Janneke Bierman, Maristella Casciato, Carlos puter technician; and Celia Facio with the design, Raquel Franklin. Louise Noelle Gras was in charge Eduardo Comas, Wessel de Jorge, Natalia Dushkina, among many others. I also want to emphasize the of showing and explaining the works of Luis Bar- Carlos García Vázquez, Miles Glendinning, Susan support of Maristella Casciato, former Chair of doco- ragán. The participants deeply appreciated this Macdonald, Enrique Madia, Rahul J. Mehrotra, Raúl momo International, and her team in Paris, as well activity because it allowed a rapprochement with Monterroso, Henrieta Moravciková, Gustavo Luis as that of the present Chair, Ana Tostões, and the important buildings and urban areas of Mexico City. Moré, Alona Nitzan–Shiftan, Kyle Normandin, Theo- Barcelona team with Ivan Blasi and Laura Arenas. It is important to stress that we are proud that dore Prudon, Eduardo Luis Rodríguez, Dennis Sharp With nearly 400 people from around 50 coun- this conference was supported fundamentally by and Horacio Torrent; and Lourdes Cruz, Catherine R. tries attending and participating in the events, we the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, spe- Ettinger, Raquel Franklin, Gabriela Lee and Alejan- were able to come closer to understand the real cially the Architecture Faculty and the Instituto de dro Ochoa from Mexico. The Organizing