Docomomo International | Conferences

First International Docomomo Conference

Eindhoven, September 12–14, 1990

The First International Docomomo Conference was organized by the Eindhoven University of Technology on September 12–14, 1990, in co-operation with the Dutch Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Department for the Conservation of Historic Monuments.

The conference concentrated on three main themes.

(1) Architectural History: Buildings of the modern movement were knowingly designed with a short life expectancy. Conservation of these “throw away” buildings brings about a conflict with the intention of the original designers. Should this affect their restoration? What are the consequences of identifying a new function for such buildings?

(2) Policy-making: In what way can an effective inventory and protection by law of architectural monuments from the period 1915–45 be implemented? How can financing of these projects be secured? In what way can management affect the amount, quality and maintenance of restored buildings in the future? Regarding the other themes, it is possible that these items should be dealt with in another way than before. A central problem is finding a new use for an essentially bespoke building.

(3) Technology: The designers of the modern movement took advantage of the turn-of-the-century advances in buildings technology to give form to their conceptions. This resulted in the experimental use of building methods, constructions and service systems. Although some of these are still applied today, most have been forgotten. How can such experiments be recognized and disseminated? How should they be dealt with if such constructions do not meet the contemporary requirements that the (new) function of a building brings about?