Tre progetti di restauro su edifici del Moderno / Three restoration projects on Modern architecture buildings

Abstract

This report presents a professional journey devoted to the restoration of modern architecture through three emblematic projects carried out between the 1980s and 2000s: the Kunstgewerbemuseum und Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich, the Hallenstadion in Zurich, and the Bauhaus in Dessau. The author, whose formative experience was influenced bu an experience in late-1970s socialist Poland, developed a deep and enduring focus on the Modern Movement and on the challenges of conserving twentieth-century architecture. The first case, the Zurich School and Museum of Applied Arts (1933, Egender and Steger), exemplifies a restoration approach based on in-depth material and chromatic analysis, aimed at preserving the building’s original constructive and polychromatic authenticity.
The second project, the Hallenstadion (1938–39, Egender and Müller), highlights the need to reconcile heritage protection, functional adaptation, and economic sustainability—transforming a historic sports hall into a versatile contemporary venue while safeguarding its architectural integrity. Finally, the restoration plan for the Bauhaus in Dessau (1926, Gropius) establishes a scientific methodology for modern heritage conservation, grounded in material surveys, historical research, and the formulation of preservation guidelines in collaboration with the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau and international heritage organizations. In conclusion, the experiences outlined define a methodological framework for the conservation of modern architecture based on knowledge, interdisciplinary analysis, and respect for historical and cultural value, ensuring the continued vitality of the Modern Movement’s built heritage.