DECLARATION ON THE MODERN MOVEMENT

jan 19

Stockholm Declaration on Architecture of the Modern Movement as an Integral Part of Europe's Cultural Heritage

Stockholm, 7 June 2007 - Participants in the Europa Nostra Forum "Add Modernism!", organised in cooperation with DOCOMOMO International and the Swedish Association of Architects, having discussed the wider protection, conservation, interpretation and communication issues associated with the architectural heritage of the Modern Movement, and having agreed on the need to bring this insufficiently known and underappreciated part of our common European cultural heritage to the attention of the wider public, and policy and decision makers, at national and European level, adopt the following declaration:

Recognising architecture of the Modern Movement:

• is an integral part of Europe's cultural heritage, given its wide geographical spread and its
• prevalence and influence in the built environment;
  
• is a part of the continuum of architectural history, having developed through influences from the past and being itself a strong influence on the architecture of eras which followed;
  
• is characterised by a focus on structures that answered social needs such as the provision of housing and public facilities for culture, education, health and recreation, and economic needs such as commercial and industrial buildings;
  
• has resulted from a close and fruitful collaboration between architects, engineers and craftsmen, which created an innovative architecture with new construction methods and use of materials;
  
• can be seen as a link rather than a break between the worlds of conservationists and of contemporary architects;
  
• can be for many a gateway to cultural heritage issues and could generate a new interest for both the past and the future.
  

Although some valuable steps have already been taken in establishing guidelines for its protection and conservation, Europa Nostra notes with concern that architecture of the Modern Movement:

• is particularly vulnerable because of weak legal protection and, due to poor knowledge, low appreciation among the general public;