Social And Cultural Challenges: Conserving Modern Architecture Heritage?

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Conserving Modern Architecture Heritage
The preservation of modern architecture brings new challenges to the conservation of the building. These challenges refer not only to the technical problems, like the functionality of the building, the materials, the lack of maintenance; but also with relation to the social and cultural importance of the building. The importance of modern architecture, however, does not lie only on its materials, but also in the way architects overcame problems during the years.
Modern architecture was the result of an era marked by the advent of science, industrialization, the excessive growth of cities, new means of transport and new types of buildings. But with the rapid and unplanned growth of cities, with a progressive …show more content…

The house that blends in with the nature around it, was once an important social hub for the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Some guests included the 15th prime minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, U.S. architect Buckminster Fuller, and Canadian artists Michael Snow, Jack Shadbolt and Eleanor Milne.
Our societies have not yet developed the idea that modern architecture is a cultural product and it should be protected for future generations. Recognition of a building as a cultural asset of a community takes time. Many modern buildings are at risk of adulteration or demolition, but many of them still did not have their values recognized by the society. There is a need to take an effective action to safeguard preventively buildings that can become social and cultural …show more content…

For example, the flat roofs were being put into practice in the when they had not yet developed adequate insulation products. This problem has appeared in the Strutt House, because of the shape of it’s roof. Similarly, glass facades have been built when the curtain-wall air conditioning system and technique were not available, a problem that the Mayrs House, has shown. However, it is important to note that these "errors" are part of the risk of proposing something new and have a historical value for

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