Hippodrome de Groenendaal
Hoeilaart, André Paduart, 1980
DATE: 3/5/2011
This grandstand was designed in 1980 by Prof. André Paduart, an eminent Belgian structural engineer and structural designer (who also served as the President of the IASS from 1971 to 1979). It stands as an archetypical manifestation of long-span cantilever roofs with both architectural and structural importance, and is one of the few grandstand structures of this type selected for inclusion in our book "Fifty Years of Progress for Shell and Spatial Structures" [in preparation, to be published by the IASS later in 2011]. The only examples of thin concrete cantilever roofs cited in this book as especially significant are four that represent different basic types of this category: cast
in situ hyperbolic paraboloids as in the Zarzuela Hippodrome (Madrid, designed by Eduardo Torroja), prestressed catenaries as in the La Rinconata Hippodrome (Caracas, designed by T. Y. Lin), precast hypars as in the Bainbridge Island grandstand (Washington State, USA, designed by Jack Christiansen), and the folded plates of the Hippodrome de Groenendaal.
For more information:
IASSNanterre Architecture School
Jacques Kalisz, Nanterre, 1972
DATE: 18/2/2011
We have been informed by DOCOMOMO France that the Jacques Kalisz Architecture School in Nanterre, near La Défense (Grand Paris) is in danger after efforts from DOCOMOMO France to protect and restructure the building.We attach the DOCOMOMO Fiche on the building and we also encourage you to participate in its defense through:
More info: École de NanterreNanterre Architecture School
Save the Architecture School of Nanterre!?
DATE: 15/6/2011
Wednesday 15 june, 07:00pm
With the participation of:
Serge Kalisz, Architect
Jean-Christophe Tougeron, Vice-president of La Maison de l’architecture en île-de-France
Bernard Mauplot, President of Conseil régional de l’Ordre des Architectes d’île-de-France
Olivier Godet, Chef du Service architecture de la DRAC IDF
and
Catherine Blain, architect, docteur en architecture.
Free entrance
La Maison de l’architecture en île-de-France 148 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin 75010 Paris
contact@maisonarchitecture-idf.org
www.maisonarchitecture-idf.org
More information:
Maison de l´architecture
Phillis Wheatley Elementary School
New Orleans, Charles R. Colbert, 1954
DATE: 1/5/2011
The Phillis Wheatley Elementary School is an innovative monument of modern architecture in the city of New Orleans. The school was designed by the architect Charles R. Colbert in 1954. The cantilevered steel truss structure allows for a covered play space underneath. The primary school building did not flood after Hurricane Katrina, but remains closed.On behalf of DOCOMOMO US/ Louisiana I ask you to consider signing an online petition to save the historic modern Phillis Wheatley Elementary School which is threatened with demolition. This petition was started by Phyllis Montana-Leblanc who spoke passionately before the Historic District Landmarks Commission in defense of her alma mater, "If you tear down my school, a part of me dies with it."
Unfortunately we have learned that there will NOT be a review before the City Council and an RFP has been issued for the demolition. Apparently since this is a city-initiated demolition (Orleans Parish School Board via Recovery School District) of a city-owned building, the City Council is not required to review the demolition request. Still, we remain dedicated to the call to preserve the Wheatley School which was listed on the World Monuments Fund Watch in 2010.
More Information:
info
Phillis Wheatley Elementary School
Video by DOCOMOMO_US Louisiana
DATE: 8/6/2011
The Phillis Wheatley Elementary School has served the historic New Orleans African-American neighborhood of Tremé since it opened in 1955. Celebrated worldwide for its innovative, regionally-expressive modern design – the structure sustained moderate damage during the storms and levee breach of 2005. Although it is scheduled for demolition in Summer 2011, DOCOMOMO Louisiana is advocating for its restoration via adaptive reuse. "A Plea For Modernism" is narrated by actor Wendell Pierce (“The Wire”, “Treme”).
More information:
videoPhillis Wheatley Elementary School
Demolished
DATE: 17/6/2011
DOCOMOMO International has been informed that Phillis Wheatley Elementary School has been demolished.
"“A combination of contractor greed + a dysfunctional educational system + a federal program (known as section 106) that actually promotes demolition, were just too much to overcome".
More information:
Demolition of Phillis Wheatley Elementary School
Aghion Villa
Alexandria, August, Gustave and Claude Perret, 1927
DATE: 11/5/2011
Aghion Villa by August, Gustave and Claude Perret
DOCOMOMO International supports Aghion Villa Campaign
DATE: 24/5/2011
DOCOMOMO International, with the support of DOCOMOMO France, has signed and supported the petition to save the Aghion Villa, threatened with destruction by its owner.
The decision of the Ministry of Culture to classify the building within its preservation list (Decree 278, Council of Ministers 2008) has apparently not succeeded in saving the building. The Administrative Court of Alexandria would indeed have refused to reject the destruction with the argument that the demolition permit seems to have been delivered before the decision of classification (June 13th, 2009).
County Archive Building, Landsarkivet
Lund, Bernt Nyberg, 1971
DATE: 20/4/2011
The County Archive Building, "Landsarkivet" from 1903 by architect Carl Möller, in 1971 received an addition by Bernt Nyberg. This building holds its place in architectural history due to its outstanding architectural and artistic qualities. With its powerful shape and sensitive handling of materials, the archive building is one of the foremost examples of modernistic brick architecture in Sweden.
"Landsarkivet" also is an excellent example of how modernistic architecture can be added to traditional architecture and create a strong artistic whole. With its heavy, unbroken wall of "Helsingborg brick", the annex creates a vital and beautiful relationship to the older buildings of the ensemble. The interplay skilfully brings out the qualities of both old and new parts.
The archive building by Nyberg is part of a tradition of brick building that was developed and passed on by the internationally known Swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz, creator of the churches in Björkhagen and Klippan. In Skåne (the southernmost part of Sweden) the heritage of Lewerentz has been taken over by Bernt Nyberg, Klas Anshelm and Bengt Edman.
The archive buiding in Lund by Nyberg has an international reputation and is a natural place to visit for architectural enthusiasts from all over the world, who wish to experience and study the tradition of Lewerentz on location. In "Guide to Swedish Architecture" it is one of 380 oeuvres that depict the Swedish architecture during 1000 years.
A conversion into student lodgings is presently projected. We, the undersigned, demand that the archive building by Bernt Nyberg not be mutilated by the penetration of unbroken walls or other exterior changes that will break the architectural whole of annex and ensemble.
More information and Sign document: LandsarkivetUS Embassy in Bagdad
Josep Lluís Sert, Bagdad, 1957
DATE: 27/5/2011
We
attach this information received from Pedro Azara (Professor at the Barcelona Architecture School-ETSAB) who received it in turn from Baghdad. It briefly describes the state of the premises of the old U.S. embassy (visited a few days ago), situated by the River Tigris and inside the so-called Green Zone (part of the city closed off to the general public, created by former President Saddam Hussein and maintained by the old forces of occupation and the present Iraqi government), built by the Spanish architect Josep Lluís Sert, in 1957, the then dean of Harvard University. This is undoubtedly Sert’s best work. The complex was bombed.
About three years ago, Barcelona City Council (or a part, at least) expressed interest in the site and proposed its restoration, offering to find the funds for repair work if the ownership of the buildings was clarified.These, in fact, were only used for a short time by the U.S. government, given the difficulties in controlling an excessively large and scattered site, and it was ceded to the Iraqi authorities and used as the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1973 to 1983. Finally, in 2009, the U.S. government, which had remained the owner, handed it over definitively to the Iraqi government. This ceded the use of the buildings to Baghdad City Council but retained possession of the land, and one building, the best preserved, is used as an annex by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yet again, while the garden serves as a parking lot, without a minimum of maintenance being carried out.Given the dilapidated condition of the complex, many Iraqi officials would have no regrets if the buildings were torn down: the ignorance of the nature of the complex displayed by both the Iraqis and high U.S. military officials, and the fact that the site is in the off-limits Green Zone, unknown to the inhabitants of Baghdad, does not help to stir up interest in preserving Sert’s work.
The city councils of Barcelona and Baghdad began the process of twinning and cultural cooperation in 2009, with the Spanish Embassy mediating and offering as much encouragement as much as possible. There was talk of using the premises for a Cervantes Institute in conjunction with a pioneer institute for Baghdad studies, and then, in 2009, some members of the Association of Architects of Catalonia proposed an international architectural competition to select an architect to carry out the repair work (with the association offering to organise the competition), but the mayor of Baghdad preferred the architect to be appointed directly from Barcelona. And it was also later suggested that the Spanish embassy be moved to the site if the restoration work was carried out by the Spanish authorities.Since then, the economic crisis, the still difficult and unclear situation in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, and the ambiguous position of the Iraqi state and municipal authorities, who, while they have been willing to accept foreign (Spanish) financial aid for the restoration of the complex, want to reserve the right to decide on the use and purpose of the site, has left the project up in the air, perhaps forever.
In blind desperation, in the face of the complex’s imminent demolition, the University of Baghdad is attempting, despite the general indifference, to find help and raise funds to save the complex, threatened by a danger that also menaces other instances of modern architecture in Baghdad, with, to take example, a representative of the Foundation Le Corbusier coming, at the time of writing, to Baghdad to try to save the Saddam Hussein stadium, which was built in the 80s on the basis of a project by Le Corbusier dating from the late 1950s.
“Today I visited the Sert building, it is in awful condition!!! Parts of the embassy building are destroyed, others damaged, the building with the employees’ apartments is in better shape, the residency is not so good, but there is nothing that couldn’t be fixed!! The only thing that is very clear is that a lot of money is needed to do it!” (Baghdad, 26 April 2011). Photos and documentation: Ghada Siliq (Baghdad, 20 April 2011)
DOCOMOMO International will publish more information on this issue in DOCOMOMO Journal 44.
More information:
TOCHOAichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music
Aichi, Junzo Yoshimura, 1974
DATE: 16/9/2011
September 16 2011
New Campaign to protect Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts.
Sign up here!
Six months have passed since the disasters of earthquake, tsunami and the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant took place. People, especially those who suffered most, have been fighting courageously to live and get back to their normal lives. On the surface, the life in Tokyo seems to be going normal but it is not the same as before March 11.
Today, I send this e-mail to tell you about THE PETITION SITE ON THE WEB where we collect petition signatures.
My father and colleagues designed a whole campus for an art and music school ( Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music) in 1966.
The school administration and the Aichi prefecture are planning to demolish most of the campus buildings and build new ones. They claim that the long neglected buildings are not worth preserving and renovation. Some buildings have been already torn down.Beginning October they plan to start constructing a gigantic new building on a site where very rare and endangered plants and small animals live. This is a very serious concern for the naturalists as well.
We need your support to send the voice of protest to the authorities concerned.
Please send your petition signature from the site below (one in English and the other in Italian) and also spread these addresses to your friends and colleagues.
English petition
Italian petition
The aftermath of the 11 March disaster has made this grievous matter overshadowed in Japan. We need your support.
Taka Yoshimura
June 6 2011
DOCOMOMO International´s Chair, Ana Tostoes, and
DOCOMOMO Japan´s Chair, Hiroyuki Suzuki, have sent a letter to the authorities regarding the preservation and utilization of the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music:
DOCOMOMO has learned with alarming concern that the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music is presently considering a campus redevelopment plan that may include some major alterations to and/or demolitions of its campus and its facilities designed by Junzo Yoshimura. In this occasion we would like to remind all concerned parties that in January 2010 DOCOMOMO Japan, along with the Chair of Architectural Institute of Japan, pleasantly informed the university that DOCOMOMO Japan had registered collectively the Campus and its Facilities of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music as part of the DOCOMOMO Japan 150 selections (No. 122) in recognition of its exceptional architectural quality. At the same time DOCOMOMO Japan voiced its concerns for its seemingly precarious future stakes and petitioned for the institutions´ careful consideration.
Here, we would like to reiterate the great architectural and cultural heritage of your university’s campus and facilities collectively and once again to deliver this petition for its preservation.
In selecting DOCOMOMO Japan cited among others the following merits and distinctions about the Campus and its Facilities of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music:
1. The overall campus set in a gently rolling topography with abundant greenery is contextually designed and environment friendly.
2. The campus built complex is comprised of series academic buildings such as class rooms, lecture halls, research laboratories, student halls, dormitories and facilities, visiting scholar dormitories, libraries, concert halls and museums as well as administrative buildings and service facilities, etc. These buildings are collectively organized based on the notion of urban design to give simulated urban quality in the central zone of the campus while various and pervasive existence of open spaces throughout campus in courtyard, quadrangle and other forms tender areas to pause and relax that are in some way reminiscent of Japanese traditional “Ma” space.3. Majority of campus buildings are made with reinforced concrete and collectively attest to the creative and plastic use of concrete as an expressive medium for architectural ideas. Recognizing that it has been more than 45 years since the initial inauguration of its campus, we are fully aware of the fact that the university buildings and facilities would require various timely adjustments reflecting both the educational and social changes. Nevertheless; we, DOCOMOMO INTERNATIONAL AND DOCOMOMO JAPAN firmly believe that those needed adjustments can be made without a categorical and irrevocable damage to the existing merit-worthy campus and buildings.Through the continuous use the buildings mature and attain historical and cultural value. Accordingly, the Campus and its Facilities of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, too, have become to scintillate as the university’s collective assets that express the manifold ideals and aspirations of those who built the university. We would like to emphasize that the Campus and its Facilities of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music collectively represent as an exceptional and significant architectural, cultural and historic masterpiece and; therefore our treasure.
DOCOMOMO INTERNATIONAL wants to consider the preservation and utilization of the university’s campus and buildings.
Takako Yoshimura, daughter of Junzo Yoshimura (1908-1997), contacted DOCOMOMO International with the information that you can read in the PDF document and these links:
More information:
Shinodanozomi (English, Japanese and Italian)
Midoriyutakana
Sepia
Youtube
Prentice Women’s Hospital
Bertrand Goldberg
DATE: 7/6/2011
Bertrand Goldberg’s Prentice Women’s Hospital is endangered. Northwestern University has stated that their intent is to tear the building down as soon as they can. This is hindered slightly as there is still a tenant in the lower portion that will not move out until September. Therefore the push is on to try to get the City of Chicago to do something about it.
The effort here locally is being lead by Landmarks Illinois and Preservation Chicago who have both listed it on the most endangered lists. It has also been submitted to the NTHP for listing on their most endangered list too, but that list does not come out for another month or so and we do not know for certain if it will be included.
Below are a number of links to current articles and websites about the issue so you can familiarize yourself with what is going on. The current request is to get as many people as possible to write a letter to Alderman Brendan Reilly who has gotten agreement from Northwestern to hold off for 60 days. Northwestern claims that the building no longer functions for its needs and cannot be adapted to any reasonable use for them. To counter that, Landmarks Illinois has developed a reuse study with three different alternative uses. You can view these at the link below. This does not mean that Northwestern will relent, but it may get Reilly on our side.
You should also know that a
DOCOMOMO fiche for Prentice is being prepared by a graduate student at the School of the Art Institute’s Program in Historic Preservation, Susannah Ribstein. She wrote her undergraduate thesis at the University of Chicago on Bertrand Goldberg so is well prepared to complete this task.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?????We would like as many people as possible to write a letter to Alderman Reilly telling him to consider local landmark designation and to find a way to save the building. There are a few sample letters on the Landmarks Illinois site you can read. If you are a member of the 42 Ward, please emphasis that fact. Also please forward this on to anyone you think might be inclined to also support the effort. Showing Reilly that this is a matter of concern that goes beyond the city limits is important. It would be particularly great to get some recognizable names in architecture write a letter. If any of you have such contacts please reach out to them. Also please join the SAVE PRENTICE facebook page.
On-line petition:
Petition
More information:
Landmarks Illinois Preservation Chicago
Blair Kamin article
Lynn Becker’s blog entry which includes Alderman Reilly’s letter to his constituentsItalian Memorial, Shed 21, Auschwitz, 1980
Lodovico Belgiojoso, Gianfranco Maris, Primo Levi, Mario Samonà, Nelo Risi and Luigi Nono.
DATE: 0/0/0
Reactions
25 September 2011
The Memorial is under very serious threat. Since June 30, 2011 the Italian room - the so called Baracca 21 - has permanently been closed and there is no longer access to the Memorial. Therefore, there are no news about the current status of the oeuvre. It is unavoidable that the Memorial will be dismantled. The issue is to understand when and where it could be remounted.
Also the whole oeuvre is very fragile and needs special care and restorers when it will be taken into pieces. Each piece needs to be numbered for the eventual new mounting in a different location, possibly in Italy.
Maristella Casciatto, Chair Docomomo International 2002-2010
Italian Memorial, Shed 21, Auschwitz, 1980
Lodovico Belgiojoso, Gianfranco Maris, Primo Levi, Mario Samonà, Nelo Risi and Luigi Nono.
We have received this information from Maristella Casciato, regarding an important discussion in Italy about the Auschwitz monument commissioned to Lodovico Belgiojoso, Gianfranco Maris (both deported to Mauthausen), Primo Levi (deported to Auschwitz), Mario Samonà, Nelo Risi and Luigi Nono.
The magnific text by Serena Maffioletti (see PDF document) describes the monument and its situation today: it is likely to have it moved from Auschwitz to Italy, to assure its survival. As the text says, "This possibility needs a strong political and financial will, for which a lively awareness campaign is needed. Loosing that history, means loosing a part of the architecture, of the art, of the Italian culture, that part that Belgiojoso tried to build up patiently in his life: maybe because, as the Witness n. 7 of
The inquiry of Weiss says, «I got out the Lager, but the Lager always lives»".
We will continue informing you if new steps are taken but we also want to invite you to write your opinions to us by writing to
docomomo@miesbcn.com, so that we can forward them to Docomomo Italy and upload them here.
Read the PDF for more information and press release.
Werdmuller Centre
Claremont, Cape Town
DATE: 0/0/0
Werdmuller Centre
Roelof S Uytenbogaardt
Main Rd, between Newry and Ralph Streets
Claremont, Cape Town
Western Cape
South Africa
The Werdmuller Centre, completed in 1976, is a now defunct shopping centre. Its owners, South African Mutual Life Assurance Society now called Old Mutual, employed the services of Professor Roelof Uytenbogaardt (b.1933 - d.1998) for the design on the building. The building was aimed to
attract the many pedestrians that would pass through the building from the main road to the station and back. It was conceived as a department store catering for small businesses and local traders. Halfway through the construction process the client acquired additional land to the east of the site
and required the architect to alter the design to accommodate the extra land.
The resultant design is an off-shutter concrete extroverted box with an elaborate curvilinear ramp that not only connects the station and the main road but also tries to resolve the tie between the original property and the additional property.
The owner is fiercely looking to demolish the building and Docomomo South Africa together with Docomomo International/ISCRegisters are looking for the best way to save this important architecture work by Roelof S Uytenbogaardt.
Further information will be uploaded.
Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana
Edvard Ravnikar, 1977
DATE: 12/9/2011
DOCOMOMO Slovenia and DOCOMOMO International have signed a letter supporting the importance of preserving Cankarjev dom designed by Edvard Ravnikar in 1977.
International key figures such as William J. R. Curtis Mr Juhani Pallasmaa are also collaborating in this campaign.
Maja Ivanic, President of the Ljubljana Architectural Association and Union of Architectural Associations of Slovenia (Drustvo arhitektov Ljubljana in Zveza drustev arhitektov Slovenije) states:
"The latest building that is being destroyed through the renovation of its interior is the cultural centre Cankarjev dom (CD) in Ljubljana, originally designed in 1977 by distinguished architect and academic Prof. Edvard Ravnikar. Cankarjev dom is part of the complex composition of the square Trg revolucije, also designed by Prof. Ravnikar. The urbanistic design of the square was planned for several decades and therefore most clearly presents Ravnikar’s creative mind.
Cankarjev dom needs to be renovated. Unfortunately the director of Cankarjev dom and the architect exhibit a fundamental lack of understanding and respect towards Ravnikar’s original design. Instead of protecting it, they have used the renovation to completely remove Ravnikar´s existing interiors. Their attitude toward Ravnikar’s work is shown through their previous renovations: the redesign of the first and second entry hall, Kosovel hall and Club CD; changing the proportion of the spaces, original materials, colors and details".
US former Embassy, Karachi
Richard Neutra, 1959
DATE: 0/0/0
Architect Arif Belgaumi has alerted Docomomo about the risk of destruction of the US Consulate in Karachi, former Embassy, designed by Richard Neutra in the 50´s.
Earlier this year the building was decommissioned as the American mission moved into a new fortified facility. A group of architects and other concerned citizens, led by the Institute of Architects of Pakistan have requested the US State Department to consider converting the building into a public function, or gifting it to the city of Karachi. If sold it will most likely be demolished and the site used for the construction of a high rise building.
DOCOMOMO is working together with the Advisory Board and Richard and Dion Neutra to see how to further support this project.
You can find more information at:
Former american consulate a prime property sale
Remembering Neutra´s Embassy
The following PDF informs about the Institute of Architects Pakistan´s proposal to convert the building into the Neutra Cultural Centre, prepared by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (CAP), Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami (IAP) and Ar. Arif Belgaumi (IAP).
Office complex Novartis, 1962-1968
Martin Burckhardt and Bernard-Henri Zehrfuss
DATE: 5/12/2011
Docomomo France is struggling to protect the former Headquarters and laboratories of Sandoz in Rueil-Malmaison now called "Housing complex Novartis" (Departments Novartis Animal Health and Novartis Consumer Health are located on the site).
Docomomo International supports this effort against a scandalous demolition of this building by Martin Burckhardt and Bernard-Henri Zehrfuss, with the collaboration of Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé. You can find more information on this building in the following file.
Any body may usefully write to contest the demolition decision, to the mayor:
patrick.ollier@mairie-rueilmalmaison.fr and to Novartis´s president: patrice.zagame@novartis.com.
For more information:
docomomo.france@gmail.com
agnes.cailliau@wanadoo.fr
oliviernouyrit@yahoo.fr
