OCTOBER 2008 » book review

The Modern Movement

Preservation of Modern Architecture
by Theodore H. M. Prudon, FAIA
John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Hoboken, NJ; 2007
592 pp.; hardcover; numerous b&w photos; 16 color pages; $99
ISBN 978-0471662945

Reviewed by Robert D. Loversidge, Jr., FAIA

As historic preservation makes its way into the 21st century, every library will need to have a copy of Preservation of Modern Architecture, by Theodore H. M. Prudon, FAIA, professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and architect in private practice. Prudon is the President of DOCOMOMO US (International Working Party for the Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites, and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement) and a board member of DOCOMOMO International, organizations formed to study and advocate for the preservation of significant Modern Movement architecture. As much as some hard-core preservation advocates who don't acknowledge designers past Benjamin Latrobe might like to object, make no mistake about it – the preservation movement is beginning to embrace the architecture of the recent past – as it must.

As Prudon notes in the preface, "It should not be surprising that those who fought so hard against urban renewal to preserve an earlier heritage are not as easily mobilized to advocate for the preservation of buildings of the recent past." On the other hand, many of us in architectural practice today were brought up as part of the Modern Movement (or at least towards the end of it), so the buildings being considered are (a) well within our design knowledge base and (b) certainly not "old" enough to be considered "historic." Saarinen. Neutra. Mies. Stone. Wright. These are familiar names to many of us. Yet, their buildings, that we once heralded as "new," are increasingly endangered by functional obsolescence, by material failure, by energy concerns, by evolving urban landscapes, by the impermanent nature of their construction, and, like the historic buildings of the past, by society's changing tastes. In the future, an increasing number of projects designed by architects will utilize existing buildings – surely this trend will be accelerated by the increased emphasis we see everywhere on "sustainability." No building project is more "green" than one that starts with the embedded energy of an existing building.

This book is an attempt to bridge the gap(s) between traditional American preservation practices, which use 18th and 19th century building typologies, and the philosophical and physical design requirements needed to preserve modern architecture. The author distinguishes preservation issues common in traditional preservation practice from those encountered in the preservation of modern buildings. It is a tome. At nearly 600 pages and 4.2 pounds (according to Amazon), Preservation of Modern Architecture is not a quick read or a book to drag along for a few minutes reading during your lunch hour. It is a comprehensive volume that endeavors to address every conceivable aspect of its topic.

The first part, "Preservation of Modern Architecture: An Overview," is a detailed history of the modern movement and its preservation, with emphasis on the various treatises and charters that have guided preservation design philosophy over the years. In describing and defining the various terms used in the field, Prudon attempts to distinguish conservation of modern buildings from more traditional preservation. He suggests that "Continuity and the ability to recognize original design intent is critical to the preservation of modern architecture . . . Whereas in traditional preservation practice the original material and its presence is considered the most authentic and thus what needs to be preserved, in the preservation of modern architecture there is likely to be a combination of both design intent and material authenticity with, probably, a somewhat greater priority placed on the design itself."

Prudon notes that this shift in emphasis has resulted from the increased prominence of the architect as "primary creator," the use of manufactured parts (vs. craftsmanship) and the resultant increase on the importance of the design intent. The issue of "intent" is, in some ways, exacerbated by the fact that we can sometimes consult the original architect as we go about the business of restoring relatively recent buildings. According to Prudon, this can be dicey, as we are relying on memories, but I have found it to be especially helpful in some cases. In any case, the job of the preservation architect is very different from that of the original designer. Later in Part I there are chapters that touch on technical preservation techniques, determining significance, and even a section on how to inspect existing conditions. Frankly, some of this seems out of place, if the audience for this book is intended to be those already engaged in preservation. At the same time I found myself wondering if some of these chapters should be expanded into stand-alone books.

Part II is called "Building Typologies: Case Studies," and it (more than half the volume of the book) consists of a series of case studies involving both iconic and lesser know examples of preservation projects involving modern architecture. The case studies are divided into building type categories: Pavilions, Residential Architecture, Prefabrication, Schools, Performing Arts Centers, Hotels, Airport Terminals and Industrial Buildings. There are also sections on Glass and Stone Exterior Cladding Materials and a miscellaneous section that contains interesting information on dale de verre (faceted glass set in a concrete frame). In many ways this is the most engaging part of the book, because of the real-life examples and the interesting stories accompanying the project descriptions.

At the outset, I mentioned that I thought this book should be in everyone's library – and the author's incredible depth of knowledge and the quality of the examples chosen should have been enough to make it an outstanding publication – especially now, when so little is available in print on the subject. However, two factors make such a blanket endorsement somewhat difficult. First, the writing style is sometimes cumbersome and often redundant. The text could have benefited greatly from a strict editor with a red pen. Secondly, the production design and printing quality is terrible. This is a book that could profit greatly from lots of great photographs. While there are quite a few, the reproduction quality is poor, making "good" and "bad" examples all look rather dull.

The page layout with its "academic" approach to captions (numbered, placed away from the photos, and in hard-to-read light gray print) makes it difficult to "skim" the book for interest and information. Similarly, the author's notes, sometimes as interesting as the main text, are placed at the end of the book, making it awkward to use. There is a section of 25 colored photos, printed on glossy paper, unceremoniously placed between pages 418 and 419, that seems like either a teaser (what the book might have been) or an apology. Unfortunately, almost all of these photos are simply color views of buildings shown elsewhere in black and white. There are a few black and white illustrations – plans and even occasional architectural details (if only there were more of these) – that are very nicely done and helpful to the reader.

This book begins the necessary and potentially very exciting discussion on the future of the historic preservation movement in the United States and around the world. Preservation of the recent past is a topic that is not only timely, but urgent. There are so many 20th century buildings to choose from but they will not "last" as long as their sturdier predecessors. We need to learn how to decide quickly which ones are important; they were designed during a different era and under different assumptions. We need to thoroughly understand design intent to be better preservation architects; these buildings were built from manufactured pieces and parts that may no longer be available or which may have been superseded by more contemporary performance standards. We need to decide what is important. Professor Prudon has given us a path to follow. Take the time to read Preservation of Modern Architecture. TB

Robert D. Loversidge, Jr., FAIA is CEO of Schooley Caldwell Associates, a 64-year old architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, planning and interior design firm in Columbus, OH, that specializes in historic preservation, planning and public works. A Fellow of The American Institute of Architects, he is a past chair of the AIA's national Historic Resources Committee. His firm has recently collaborated on design for restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Westcott House in Springfield, OH.

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