Modern sites get a Getty boost
The Getty Foundation is traversing new ground — quite literally.
On Thursday, the Getty announced the recipients of its 2018 Keeping It Modern grants, which provide conservation planning funds to key 20th century architectural landmarks, internationally, $1.7 million in all this year. The 11 latest grantees span nine countries; but this year’s initiative marks the first time grants have been awarded to buildings in Cuba, Lebanon, BosniaHerzegovina, Ireland as well as the country of Georgia.
“These countries are now demonstrating that they’re ready to embrace new approaches to the preservation or conservation of modern architecture,” said Antoine Wilmering, the Getty’s senior program officer. “Many buildings are repaired on an ad-hoc basis — when the roof leaks or something — but we’re developing comprehensive conservation management and policy documents to guide both short-term repairs and long-term care... That being embraced by countries all over the world is incredibly significant, because in each country, it has impact beyond a single building.”
Cuba’s National Schools of Art of Havana will get $195,000. The complex of Catalan-vaulted brick and terra-cotta domed structures was among the country’s first cultural projects after the 1959 revolution. Designed by Cuban architect Ricardo Porro and Italian architects Vittorio Garatti and Roberto Gottardi, it marked a spirit of cross-cultural collaboration and optimism. But by the late ’60s, support for the art school waned and some of the buildings were left uncompleted. Today, much of the concrete is flaking, and the brick and mortar has eroded. Specialists at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy will lead the conservation project, which also includes training of Cuban conservation professionals.
In 1975, Lebanon’s civil war halted work on the Rashid Karami International Fairground in Tripoli. Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer’s compound of exhibition pavilions, museums and theaters blends modernist architecture with hints of traditional Lebanese styles. Although some structures are holding strong, others show damage. With the Getty’s grant of $225,000, consultants will map out urgent repairs and adaptive reuse possibilities.
Since the program launched in 2014, the Getty has funded 54 projects globally and has awarded more than $7 million in all.