Conservation Challenges of Modern Architecture and Materials

About 80% of the world’s total building stock dates from the 20th century. The use of new materials, constructions and buildings elements allowed for innovative design solutions, recognized as cultural heritage, but also created new challenges for conservation.

Despite the growing appreciation of modern architecture in Europe and North America, modern materiality and construction still face a lack of recognition of its material and immaterial values, knowledge gaps regarding adequate conservation techniques or the reluctance to apply suitable rehabilitation methodologies. The recent built heritage is facing the urgent need to address climate change and resource scarcity. Accomplishing this goal will require to transform the majority of existing modern buildings from being rather energy-inefficient to having nearly net-zero energy use.

There is an urgent need to outline evidence-based and applicable recommendations and set forth professional best practices to guide interventions.

UTA POTTGIESSER is Professor of Building Construction and Materials at TH OWL (Germany) since 2004 and Professor of Heritage & Technology at TU Delft (The Netherlands) since 2018. She holds a Diploma in Architecture from TU Berlin and a PhD on ‚Mulitlayered Glass Constructions’ from TU Dresden (both Germany). From 2017-19 she was appointed as Professor for Interior Architecture at the University of Antwerp (Belgium). She lectures and publishes internationally. She is Board Member of DOCOMOMO Germany since 2016 and was Chair of the DOCOMOMO International Specialist Committee on Technology (ISC/T) from 2016-2021. Since 2022 she serves as Chair of DOCOMOMO International.