Report of The International Conference on Conservation of 20th Century Heritage from Architecture to Landscape: 23-24 April 2019

Report of the Conference

In line with the importance of obtaining the confirmation of Modernism as heritage by all professional societies, elites and pioneers of this field were invited to attend the International Conference on Conservation of 20th Century Heritage from Architecture to Landscape on 23-24 April 2019, in Tehran, Iran. This conference was organized by the Research Institution of Art and Culture at College of Fine Arts at University of Tehran, in collaboration with DOCOMOMO International (International Committee for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement) and TICCIH (The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage).

With the aim of focusing on conservation and revitalization of modern and industrial heritage, this conference focused on the main topics of ‘legal capacities and processes’, ‘tourism and economy’ and ‘future perspectives and impact of the 20th century in Iran’, where several papers were presented and discussed in different panels. This was followed by a half day of roundtable, where the experts of this field discussed the existing challenges and shared their experiences of meeting these challenges.

The conference was chaired by the city mayor of Tehran, Prof. Pirouz Hanachi as the representative of DOCOMOMO International in Iran, where great number of representatives from across the world, including Japan, Germany, France, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Taiwan, Serbia were also present at the event.

Prior and after the conference, participants attended a workshop (from 19-28 April 2019) entitled ‘Theaters of References’, where significant number of academics, researchers and students of University of Tehran and University of Ache attended. This workshop aimed to motivate the creativity of participants in illustrating and understanding of architectural spaces, as well as providing and expanding the platform for cooperation between researchers of both universities. It is expected for this cooperation to take place in the form of exchange of students, researchers and academics; further facilitating the exchange of experiences in this field. 

Moreover, a statement was developed from the outcome of the panels and roundtable, providing a platform for future similar events and shedding light on concerns of the participants and researchers in the world (Appendix 1).

University of Tehran and DOCOMOMO Iran will continue promoting research on protection and conservation of modern and industrial heritage.

Appendix 2

Statement on

Conservation of 20^th Century Heritage from Architecture to Landscape

Iran-DOCOMOMO

Date: 23-24 April 2019
 

Preamble

With the hope of sharing the vision, knowledge, and experience of distinguished researchers in the field of conservation of modern and industrial heritage, the Research Institution of Art and Culture at University of Tehran, along with the Iran-DOCOMOMO have organised and hosted the International Conference on Conservation of 20^th Century Heritage from Architecture to Landscape (ICC20CH). This conference was held at Negaresten Garden, University of Tehran in Tehran, on 23-24 April 2019.

Being influenced by the Modern Movement in the late Qajar Period and especially in Pahlavi dynasty, Iran has been home to significant number of lasting structures of Iranian and western architects, which has indeed marked the initiation of a similar development trends in Iran. Today, conservation of these important legacies is crucial and their negligence is a threat to their survival, and so, significant acts and effort have been made by Iranian authorities and Iran-DOCOMOMO, to ensure the safeguard and conservation of modern cultural heritage; growing a trend in recognizing and conserving the values, authenticity and integrity of modern heritage in Iran.

In line with this, ICC20CH has gathered researchers and officials to demonstrate the most recent comprehensive and integrated approach on both modern and industrial heritage, providing a platform for exchange of ideas and a great stepping-stone for future similar events, with the emphasis on integrated approach on conservation of modern and industrial heritage.

The main themes covered on conservation of modern and industrial heritage are ‘concepts and principles’, ‘legal Capacities and processes’, ‘tourism industry and cultural economy’, ‘the future perspective’ and the overall impacts of modern movement on Iran’s 20^th century heritage; from architecture to landscape. The following articles on important debates and existing challenges were derived from three panel sessions of ICC20CH:

Article 1:

Identifying and assessing significance of heritage as the key criterion in dynamic and sustainable conservation, while keeping a balance between sustainability and significance of heritage.

Article 2:

Highlighting the importance of having a comprehensive perspective on various aspects of sustainable development and tangible and intangible values, with respect to authenticity and integrity as main conservation criteria, to achieve integrated conservation and development approach.

Article 3:

Ensuring for a dynamic conservation process through ‘overcoming the existing challenge of conserving modern and industrial heritage’ and ‘overseeing, maintaining and keeping an integrated and comprehensive approach’, while the heritage is being exposed to the continuous physical, financial, social, cultural and political and scientific changes of the contexts.

Article 4:

Developing an appropriate principles, approaches, techniques and methods of conservation and adaptive reuse of modern and industrial heritage in ever-changing world.

Article 5:

Exploring and developing new ideas for the future sustainable and modern and industrial heritage based on experiences of models across the world, such as paying particular emphasis on the enhancement of conservation of modern and industrial knowledge, at higher education level.

Article 6:

Emphasising on preserving the values ​​of the military architectural heritage, as an industrial heritage; through the use of historical studies, physical protection of the heritage, and establishment of appropriate use according to their setting. For example, adaptive reuse of Iranshahr Garrison to artists forum, and Qasr Prison into Qasr museum garden.

Article 7:

Underlining the importance of comparative studies to be carried out on the impacts of the modern movement in different countries; in order to identify possible similarities and variations

Article 8:

Stressing the need for explanation and redefinition of the values and significance for people, economics, and urban policies planning; while taking into account the ecological characteristics of cities.

Article 9:

Proposing the establishment of "Museum of Architecture and Urban Planning of Iran's Contemporary Period"; to facilitate for students, academics and researchers, the collection and archiving of documents and certificates of contemporary architecture and urbanism in Iran.