Arches 3.0 Launched in NYC
 

World Monuments Fund and the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) launched the most advanced version of Arches, the inventory and management system for cultural heritage, at a press conference at the WMF headquarters in the Empire State Building on May 5. Inventories of cultural heritage sites are essential for heritage protection, whether to help guide construction of a highway or gas pipeline, evaluate the condition of cultural heritage in the aftermath of a natural disaster, or during conflict situations, such as what is happening in Syria and Iraq. WMF President Bonnie Burnham and GCI Director Timothy Whalen discussed the project's genesis, and the preservation field's need for an economical, state-of-the-art inventory system that can be deployed by any organization, anywhere in the world. A beta version of Arches version 3.0 is now in use by the City of Los Angeles and the American Schools of Oriental Research Cultural Heritage Initiatives for Syria and Iraq, and representatives from each organization presented their projects to those in attendance. To develop Arches, WMF and the GCI worked with San Francisco-based Farallon Geographics, Inc., a leader in the field of geospatial services. Dennis Wuthrich, Farallon's CEO, showed the audience a demo of system. Learn more about Arches by visiting the project's website archesproject.org.


"Latin American Modernism at Risk" Panel at MoMA

In front of a packed theater at The Museum of Modern Art on May 5, WMF presented a panel discussion that explored the preservation challenges confronting modern buildings and sites in Latin America today. Using a selection of World Monuments Watch sites in Latin America featured in the MoMA exhibition Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980, the scholars and experts who know the sites best examined their significance and the threats to their survival. Special thanks goes to MoMA and curator Barry Bergdoll for his enthusiastic support of our work; and our panelists Claudio Vekstein, Professor at Arizona State University and co-curator of the Amancio Williams Archive; John Loomis, author of Revolution of Forms; Javier Ramirez Campuzano, Vice President of Patronato Ruta de la Amistad; Enrique Vivoni Farage, author of Klumb: An Architecture of Social Concern; and Paulina Villanueva Arismendi, Director of Fundacion Villanueva, for their outstanding presentations about these important Latin American sites. Read more about the panel discussion and watch a video of the lecture on our website.


Preserving An Icon of Midcentury Modernism
 

The iconic St. Louis Gateway Arch is recognized the world over and is a symbol of pride for the residents of Missouri. The Arch is considered a major piece of midcentury modern architecture by a master of the form, Eero Saarinen. But as is the case with many important examples of modern architecture, preserving it has proven challenging. The complexity of preserving both the structural integrity and aesthetic qualities of the Arch compels cooperation between the public and private sectors to ensure that adequate expertise and resources are brought to bear in the preservation of this important landmark and national symbol. Because of these concerns, the Arch was included on the World Monuments Watch in 2014. Beginning in 2005, the National Park Service initiated an investigation of the causes of apparent corrosion and staining on the stainless steel structure, which culminated in an inspection of the heretofore inaccessible upper reaches of the Arch in October 2014. The findings of this report were presented at a symposium, "Mid-Century Modern Structures: Materials and Preservation," organized by the National Center for Preservation Technology, the National Park Service,and World Monuments Fund, April 13-16, 2015, in St. Louis, MO. Read more about the symposium on our website.


WMF Field Trip to Sites in London and Paris
 
WMF began a partnership with the Palace Museum in China's Forbidden City in 2002 to restore the interiors of 27 structures in the Qianlong Garden and to assist in training Chinese conservators to tackle the many complex challenges presented when working with the fragile historic interiors and their unusual mix of materials and artistic techniques. Continuing our partnership, WMF hosted a trip in April, led by our Executive Vice President Henry Ng, with representatives from the Palace Museum to research a number of historic sites in England and France. Sites were selected that would help inform the current development of plans that would manage crowds to the delicate interiors when they are opened to the public in 2020. The group visited sites in and around London, including Windsor Castle, Bletchley Park, Waddesdon Manor, Strawberry Hill (pictured above), and Hampton Court. In Paris, they visited the Musée Guimet, Château du Fontainebleau, and the Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles. The group was thankful for the valuable insights each sites' staff gave to them. Read more about their visits to Strawberry Hill, Hampton Court, and the Petit Trianon on our website.

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