Just as in architectural design, the fields of architectural preservation and conservation continue to evolve along with building technology. What may have been the best intervention methods or materials two decades ago may now be obsolete. That’s why the Getty Conservation Institute offers an International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage for mid-career architects, planners, engineers, conservators, policymakers, and advocates from around the world.
The course aims to advance the conservation of modern heritage and architecture by teaching participants about recent advancements in research and practice. This hybrid learning opportunity kicked off in May and just finished up this month. Students learned from a variety of seasoned professionals, including AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón and his Reglazing Modernism co-author Uta Pottgeisser, who shared their knowledge of interventions on both modern steel-frame and aluminum-frame glazed enclosures. Much of the research they discussed was collected for their 2019 publication Reglazing Modernism ― Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons, which won the 2021 Lee Nelson Book Award from the Association for Preservation Technology International.
The 26 participants were exposed to a broad range of contemporary issues that professionals face in the conservation of modern heritage, from theoretical and methodological issues to the technical aspects of materials conservation. The course also provided a platform for both students and instructors to share experiences, challenges, and other thoughts surrounding the practice.