Keeping It Modern, conserving modern heritage

“Keeping It Modern,” is an international Grant by the Getty Foundation that supports projects contributing to the conservation of modern architecture. Modern architecture encompasses structures like the iconic Sydney Opera House and several influential structures of the 20th century.

Since 2014 77 projects in 40 countries were supported, with the final awarded in 2020, the projects promote the protection and conservation of twentieth-century architecture. The technical reports are freely available through the Keeping It Modern Report Library.

Modern architectural heritage is at risk as innovative and cutting edge materials and practices were used to bring them to life, however, heritage professionals lack the data and research for their conservation. The supported projects merit outstanding architectural significance and contribute to conservation. Through the grants management plans, maintenance and long term conservation are examined and made available. The projects and reports serve as benchmarks for similar initiatives around the world and expand heritage as we know it.

The Getty Art and Ideas podcast recently released the “Protecting Modernist Architecture for Generations to Come” podcast with Antoine Wilmering, senior program officer at the Getty Foundation, discussing the importance and ongoing impact of Keeping It Modern. You can listen to the podcast and learn more about the project and the effort to protect modern architecture.

Heritage is not static but rather evolving in tangible and intangible ways. The needs and philosophy of society are captured through the architecture of the time. Keeping it Modern sets the groundwork to take action and protect modern heritage but also to look with a fresh perspective what is the meaning of heritage.

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Keeping It Modern

Keeping It Modern Report Library

PODCAST: Protecting Modernist Architecture for Generations to Come

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Concrete heritage does not share the same recognition and conservation as other tangible heritage. While several concrete monuments exist, their significance lies in architectural or historical values. Rarely, if ever, you will hear the words uttered: “I need a little culture, some nice concrete building neighbourhood will do the trick”.

In effect, outside of aesthetics, concrete structures document their inhabitants’ needs at the time.

The project progresses with case studies from Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the Netherlands working on policy, monitoring and keeping public engagement at the heart of the project.

The policies in development focus on participative management strategies and conservation proposals to ensure community engagement in future projects on concrete heritage protection. Furthermore, the project works on “an Atlas of standardized terminology of deterioration patterns and promotes the use of Monument Diagnosis and Conservation System (MDCS), an interactive support tool for the inventory and monitoring of damage to a monumental building.”

Public involvement carries on with an interactive platform inviting the audience to contribute photographs, information and other forms of documentation. The platform will be open access meaning all collected data, therefore, have an open-access GIS form connected to European modern architecture databases.

Concrete played a defining role in our history and art, for better or worse, it is a part of our heritage. Whether out of necessity or aesthetic choice, concrete buildings is a shared feature of cities internationally and their conservation should see more recognition.

Heritage, no matter its materiality, is the embodiment of our identity and society, therefore deserving equal care.

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CONSECH20

CONSECH20: CONSErvation of 20th-century concrete cultural Heritage in urban changing environments

Sophia and CONSECH20

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