Add Modernism

The Europa Nostra Forum June 7 was dedicated to the modernist architecture in Sweden and northern Europe, an interesting choice considering that many of Europa Nostra's members live in or are passionate about pre-1900 buildings and sites.

ICOMOS and DoCoMoMo
So ICOMOS, The International Council on Monuments and Sites that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places wasn't on the agenda this time. Instead DoCoMoMo was represented by co-founder Wessel de Jonge from Holland as well as other European members. DoCoMoMo is a non-profit organisation whose full title is "International Working Party for Document and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement". It was founded to take up the challenge of the protection and conservation of modernist architecture. Their aim at the Forum was to have modernism added to the agenda of European cultural heritage.

Buildings
Modernism and the modern movement are about buildings. The 20th century has seen representatives of the school in city housing, supermarkets, industrial buildings, churches,  hospitals and even a gas station. They have often been built for a certain purpose, each room tailored for a special function. Some are easy to convert from one function to another, others are difficult to adapt without compromising the architecture. One costly, but splendid adapting of an old structure to new concepts is the Zonnestraal Sanatorium in Holland. In the 1930s it housed tuberculosis patients, today it is a conference centre. 

Key words characterizing the modern movement are:

• form and function
• materials such as concrete, glass and iron
• focus on light and shade
• cosmopolitan and urban atmosphere
• architecturally homogeneous environments

Utopia of everyday
But modernism represents more than just buildings. The modern movement is an approach to society; a way of thinking rather than just a style argue people such as Wessel de Jonge from DoCoMoMo. The movement has social and architectural dimensions, besides political. The pioneers wanted to build good schools, hospitals and institutions aimed at not only the privileged, but for all parts of society. Paradoxically the architecture has had very different political implications: in Germany it's associated with fascism, in Eastern Europe with communism, in the US with capitalism and in Sweden with the Social Democratic party. Some call the modern movement for the utopia of everyday life.

Should we add modernism?
Why shouldn’t modernist architecture be protected and conserved just as medieval, baroque, and renaissance architecture?  There are many reasons for a lack of consensus regarding this question, to name but a few:

• the buildings aren’t old
• many of the buildings aren’t unique, but rather bland
• no major regional or national differences
• difficult to restore due to the fact that many are built for a certain purpose that doesn’t fit today’s requirements
• poor quality materials, ie. concrete
• deterioration in unpredictable ways due to new construction methods
• political identifications with totalitarian regimes
• closely linked to realism and everyday life

Many of the speakers noted that there wasn’t much public support for the modern movement.  The public generally doesn’t appreciate the buildings and the ideas behind them.  But perhaps it isn’t only a question of the movement being “insufficiently known and underappreciated” as stated in the draft of a Europa Nostra declaration that seeks to include modernist architecture as an integral part of Europe’s cultural heritage. 

Modernist architecture represents a communal and rationalistic approach to life and society that isn’t in the vogue today.  Trends rather point in the direction of individual choices, organic materials, spontaneity and liberalism.  Of course we must protect the outstanding examples of the modern movement, but we shouldn't go overboard.  And frankly speaking, how many architects want to live in an ABC-town like Vällingby?

Less is more - and more is not less
Executive President of Europa Nostra Andrea Schuler linked a few words to architect Mies van der Rohe’s aphorism that sums up the rational approach of the modern movement's design: “Less is more” .  Schuler agreed with the speakers that the modern movement should be regarded as an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage, and he would ensure that it was included in Europa Nostra’s portfolio.  For more is not less.