Susan Macdonald - Conserving Modern Heritage

'Somewhere Between History and Current Events: Conserving Modern Heritage'
Conserving modern heritage is not a new area of practice but one that continues to challenge traditional preservation in relation to who is doing the work, the philosophical approach and material conservation problems. Using case studies from California such as the 1949 house of Charles and Ray Eames and Louis Kahn's Salk Institute for Biological Studies completed in 1965, the talk will discuss how conserving modern heritage has pushed the boundaries of current conservation practice and created new demands for innovative research and practice.

Susan Macdonald, Head of Field Projects, Getty Conservation Institute
Bsc (Arch) B Arch, MA (Conservation Studies), RIBA, PIA
 
Susan Macdonald joined the GCI in 2008 as Head of Field Projects where she manages the Department dedicated to advancing conservation practice. Susan has a Bsc (Architecture) and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Sydney, and a Masters in Conservation Studies (University of York/ICCROM) and a certified practicing planner. Susan worked as a conservation architect in private practice and in the government sector in her native Australia and in London including at English Heritage. Susan moved to the Getty from her position as Director of the NSW Heritage Office in Australia where she was involved in a wide range of conservation issues from urban planning, development, economics, policy and technical matters and directed the successful nomination of the Sydney Opera House to the World Heritage List. Susan has as a particular interest in 20th century heritage conservation, is the former Secretary of DOCOMOMO International Specialist Technical Committee, former Vice President of the ICOMOS Specialist Committee on 20th Century Heritage and is a member of APTi’s Modern committee. She has authored and edited a number of books and articles on this subject and regularly provides advice to State parties on their nominations to the World heritage list of modern sites. Susan oversees the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative at the Getty Conservation institute which includes the Conservation of the Eames House and the Conservation of Salk Biological Institute projects.