Capacitação em conservação da Arquitetura Moderna: a experiência do CECI e do MDU-UFPE

The conservation of modern architecture faces many challenges: The fast ageing of modern buildings; the fact that many builiding were designed for specific uses, which are obsolete today; the use of new materials which were not fully understood in terms of their long-term performance; the use of traditional materials in new ways; the misconception that modern buildings were of low maintenance or maintenance-free; the understanding of the patina in a modern building as a dirty stain, and not as a natural sign of ageing like in traditional buildings. In this context, it is necessary to prepare architects and engineers to face the new challenges posed by the conservation of this built heritage. This article presents a reflection on the training in the conservation of modern architecture based on the experience of the I Modern Architecture Conservation Course (MARC-AL), the first initiative n this field in Latin America. The course was an intensive program combining theory and practice through distance learning lectures, in-situ lectures, group work, and study tours. It was developed from March to October 2009 (on-line format) and during the entire month November (in-situ module in Recife with field trips to Belo Horizonte and Brasilia, Brazil). By discussing this experience, this paper intends to convey some responses to the questions such as: is it necessary a specific training fort the conservation of modern architecture, different of the traditional one? What sorts of disciplines are necessary? What is the best balance between theory and practice? How to unite different professional viewpoints (practicing architects, architectural historians, conservationists, engineers) into a single approach? By considering these training issues, we also expect to contribute to the discussion of the major challenges faced by the conservation of modern architecture.