Organized By
ICOMOS International Scientific Committees on 20th Century Heritage (ISC20C) and Analysis and Restoration of Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH)
Co-partner Organizations
United States Committee of ICOMOS
Association for Preservation Technology (APT)
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Sponsor Organizations
Art Institute Historic Preservation Curriculum, Chicago, Illinois
DOCOMOMO International and DOCOMOMO US
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Landmarks Illinois
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Unity Temple Restoration Foundation
Event Organizers
T. Gunny Harboe, AIA, Secretary General, ICOMOS ISC20C; board member DOCOMOMO US. email: gunny@harboearch.com
Stephen J. Kelley, member ICOMOS ISCARSAH and APT Preservation Engineering Committee; email: skelley@wje.com
Event Description
This three day event will consist of a one day symposium; a day of tours; and a day devoted to meetings of the ISC20C and the ISCARSAH including separate meetings of numerous preservation groups and agencies that plan to attend. For a description of ISCARSAH see below. This event presents an occasion for two International Scientific Committees, both founded by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), to collaborate; and provide an opportunity for interested North American experts to participate in this collaboration. ISC20C was founded at the ICOMOS General Assembly in Xi’an China in 2005. ISCARSAH was founded at the General Assembly in Sofa Bulgaria in 1996. Each Committee is comprised of representative members internationally with established expertise who are recognized architects, engineers, historians, and scientists.
Venue and Date
The event will be held on 21-23 June 2007 at the Illinois Institute of Technology campus, designed by Mies van der Rohe, located at 3201 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Symposium: Thursday, 21 June 2007:
TOPIC: Identification, Advocacy, and Protection of Post-World War II Heritage.
Although there has been growing awareness in the importance of preserving 20th Century heritage and architecture of the recent past, it is still a challenge to raise public awareness and get local governments to recognize the significance and importance for the protection of this built heritage. Is it merely a question of understanding the significance of this newer heritage within the context of older heritage also within that context of place?
During the mid 1960s in the US, when the preservation movement was well established but still in its infancy, a general accepted threshold for identification and determination of heritage significance was set at fifty years. While the National Register of Historic Places does allow for the inclusion of historic resources that are less then fifty years old if “exceptional” importance can be demonstrated, many local municipalities do not allow consideration for sites that are less than fifty years. Such sites become highly vulnerable to development and we are beginning to lose these important resources at an alarming rate.
Is this fifty year threshold appropriate in a world where the rate of change continues to escalate? How can we overcome the current tendency to dismiss the significance of our more recent past? The first step is to identify and prioritize the resources of concern. Are there models for successful approaches to advocating for their protection? Are there means to provide legal protection on par and comparable with our older heritage?
This symposium will address and discuss many of these issues and more within a broad spectrum of local and international professionals who will share their experiences, approaches, successes and failures. All participants will receive a CD of the papers that have been submitted. Refer to Event updates in the next few weeks to see the symposium agenda, speakers, and panels.
Tour Program: Friday, 22 June 2007
A full day tour program will include a sampling of Chicago’s historic skyscrapers such as the Rookery *(1885); Reliance Building (1896); Carson Pirie Scott and Company Store (1899-1906) the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed Farnsworth House (1951) in Plano; and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Unity Temple (1905) in Oak Park. Transportation from Chicago’s loop, lunch, and barbeque dinner are included as part of the tour.
Committee Meetings: Saturday, 23 June 2007
Meetings of both ICOMOS ISC20C and ISCARSAH will be held in the morning followed by a joint meeting of the ISCs and a final plenary session after lunch. Please contact the conference organizers to participate in these meetings.
