Braun, Alan

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 Doctoral dissertation [Summary]320 PROSTOR 2[66] 31[2023]    The research investigates valuation activities and procedures, protection and preservation of the Modern movement heritage, with re-search focus directed towards defining con-temporary principles and theoretical models for preserving and conserving Modern archi-tecture. Comprehensive research has been undertaken in order to meticulously elabo-rate and critically analyse selected interna-tional and Croatian best-practice examples of Modern architecture conservation-restora-tion projects, the results of which have been used to methodically develop contemporary principles and theoretical models for the preservation of Modern architecture.Traditional conservation theory grounds valu-ation and preservation of built heritage in the concept of Truth, i.e. derives it from the ap-plication of principle of historical integrity as affirmed through preserved material authen-ticity. However, the Modern Movement built heritage, recognized as cultural heritage dur-ing the last quarter of the 20th century, and specifically its intrinsic features (such as the use of new, industrially produced building materials, large planar building systems, the use of the then-contemporary building tech-nologies and techniques, or the presumed limited lifespan of buildings) considerably challenge the application of canonical princi-ples of traditional conservation practice when confronted with complex processes and is-sues in building preservation.The first signs of change in traditional conser-vation paradigm were identified in the valua-tion of Modern architecture which led to its recognition as the built cultural heritage. For some time now, researchers have been aware that the established principles of integrity and material authenticity do not fully and comprehensively affirm the cultural value and relevance of Modern architecture build-ings. Gradually, the concept of Truth gave way to the concept of Design Idea, whereby the main criterion for the evaluation of Mod-ern architecture became the existing level of preserved integrity of the architect’s original intention. The research has put forward a proposition that the values of Modern archi-Alan BraunTheoretical Models  and Contemporary Principles  of the Preservation of Modern ArchitectureTeorijski modeli  i suvremeni principi  očuvanja moderne arhitektureAlan Braun (Rijeka, 1966). He received his master’s degree  from the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb in 2001 where he has been employed since 1994. He is the head of the Institute for Built Heritage of the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb and the author  of many conservation studies and projects.Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Zrinka Paladino, Ph.D.Members of the committee: Prof. Emerita Hildegard Auf-Franić, Ph.D. (president) Assist. Prof. Dubravko Bačić, Ph.D. Prof. Željko Peković, Ph.D.Date of public defense: September 22, 2023The dissertation has 406 pages, 8 chapters, 215 illustrations,  572 footnotes, 103 bibliographic units.tecture are primarily affirmed within its con-ceptual and intangible essence, even though the material contribution does remain a sig-nificant aspect of the valuation process. The value of architect’s personal design contribu-tion (architectural concept or intention) dom-inates over the conventional material value of the largely industrially mass-produced components, becoming, moreover, a funda-mental element of the Modern architecture building’s integrity. The very procedure of valuation and protection of Modern architec-ture does not differ from the process already established by the traditional conservation theory; however, valuation criteria are signif-icantly different. The value of architect’s de-sign contribution and the level of preserved visual integrity established by extensive sci-entific research are the basic criteria for eval-uating the significance and the required pro-tection regime of a Modern building.Modern architecture conservation is intrinsi-cally specific and demanding in its own right due to manifold reasons inherently connect-ed to the very characteristics of Modern ar-chitecture. Built by using new construction materials and industrialized building sys-tems, then-new technologies and innovative, often experimental construction techniques, typically devoid of unnecessarily detailing and artisan works, and with commonly built-in presumption or ignorance of limited life-span of buildings, this building stock regu-larly requires an individualized case-by-case approach and always brings demanding chal-lenges to specialized architects and conser-vation professionals.A comprehensive research analysis of select-ed best-practice examples of protected Mod-ern buildings - six European and three Croa-tian case studies - has demonstrated the fact that the same conservation methodology in-deed remains relevant and applicable, i.e. an integrated approach to the conservation of built heritage, with particular emphasis on research of all the characteristics of applied built-in materials and originally used con-struction technologies. Traditional methods in preserving the built heritage have been ap-plied in these case-study examples without any substantial differences in relation to con-servation of historical architecture continu-ously built until the end of the 19th century. A fundamental difference, however, is exempli-fied by the emerging approach to the preser-vation of Modern architecture which substan-tially differs from the one established by the application of traditional conservation prin-ciples based on minimal intervention princi-ple, and focused towards preserving the in-tegrity and material authenticity.This extensive analysis has resulted in the identification and theoretical explication of eight principles relevant for the contemporary practice of preservation and conservation of Modern architecture. These principles are: 1) preservation of visual integrity, 2) preserva-tion of the original design idea, 3) sustainabil-ity, 4) novelty and constant maintenance, 5) acceptable change, 6) replacement material, 7) removing technical deficiencies of the orig-inal design, and 8) improving energy efficien-cy. Developing on the theoretically explicated synthesis of traditional and contemporary conservation principles, and substantiated by the in-depth elaboration of selected case studies, it was possible to identify and pres-ent three theoretical models for the preserva-tion of Modern architecture: 1) Restitution of the original condition model, 2) Improvement of the original condition model, and 3) Reha-bilitation model.Preservation of Modern architecture is a truly comprehensive, specific and timely task for the profession which is nowadays confronted with new architectural conservation challeng-es on a daily basis. The emerging contempo-rary principles and theoretical models of Mod-ern architecture preservation, which have been explored and presented in the disserta-tion, offer comprehensive, holistic and theo-retically verified approach to complex and de-manding projects in the preservation of Mod-ern movement heritage. Moreover, they enable for a quality-based expert application in planning and developing demanding and complex programs for the preservation of valuable examples of Modern architecture.

Theoretical Models and Contemporary Principles of the Preservation of Modern Architecture; Doctoral dissertation [Summary]

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