DATE: 7/12/2012
an Introduction by
Ana Tostões, Chair of docomomo International
The study of Modern interior space and furniture is reinforced with the second 2012 docomomo Journal.
The variety, complexity and preservation case studies; or the discussion on materiality and techniques, explains the argument of this Journal: Global Design.
Coming back from the 12th International docomomo Conference held in Tapiola at the Espoo Cultural Center docomomo wishes to stress the Conference theme
“Survival of Modern, from Coffee Cup to General Plan”.
Following Richard Neutra expression “Survival through Design”, and Gropius statement “design from the cup of coffee to the general plan” ability, the aim is to face the new worldwide
challenges. In fact, I am sure that docomomo commitment and effort made through a competent network of professionals is each time more valuable, more necessary, and more imperative! We all know that times are changing, times are changing at high speed!
Thanks to Finland, the motto “Survival of Modern” justifies going deeper in the relation that connects form and function, esthetics and ethics. That’s also why the argument is Global Design. The aim of this collective and interdisciplinary reflexion is to contribute for the discussion that relates Modern heritage and interior space, common daily life and musealization of Modern Interior Spaces, gathered underneath a global strategy to better understand and preserve these delicate monuments. In fact, the interior space with all devices and furniture pieces is frequently neglected as an essential matter in safeguard interventions.
This issue wishes, in a certain sense, to pay tribute to education and pedagogic skills, to preservation and re-use approaches, in order to enlighten the relevance of sensorial and tactile comfort, economy and beauty, utility and simplicity; and at the same time, improving regional roots in order to fulfill the sense of the place.
Indeed, the small scale was an important theme at the International docomomo Conference ‘The Survival of Modern, from Coffee Cup to General Plan’, which, together with the Workshop and the Docotours, took place in Espoo, Finland, between August 2 and 13. During the Council Meeting, celebrated at the Espoo Cultural Center, a proposal to create an ISC on Interior Design was also discussed and hopefully it could be created in 2014. Seven new docomomo Chapters were also accepted: China, Georgia, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, Lebanon and Ukraine, and the candidacy of docomomo Korea to organize the next International docomomo Conference in Korea in 2014, was approved. It was also an opportunity to strengthen links with the UIA, the Fondation Le Corbusier and ICOMOS 20th century committee. In the next two years, the International Specialist Committees will also have important challenges as you can read in their plans of action which have been presented in the docomomo Newsletter which has been retaken. In this Journal you will find a summary of the contents of the Conference, the Workshop and the Tours, written by their organizers, Timo Tuomi, Tommi Lindh, Olli Hakanen, Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen and Aino Niskanen. Finally, the keynote presentations by Juha Leiviskä, Juhani Pallasmaa, John Allan, Mikko Heikkinen and Anthony Vidler, reinforced the connection between docomomo and architectonic production. In this occasion we would like to thank Anthony Vidler for allowing us to publish his lecture on ‘Learning to Love Brutalism’.
Finally, I wish to thank Bárbara Coutinho who so powerfully helped us acting as guest editor of this ‘Global Design’ Dossier, continuing the work of the previous “Designing Modern Life” Journal, together with the involvement of architects, art historians and restorers who have generously shared with us their wide experience and their thought and theoretical reflection on the issue.
