Lovell Chen’s Suzanne Zahra is upbeat about the future of the way we think about the urban environment and the values modern buildings bring to it. Her work is all about the scope for adaptation of heritage buildings — post-war ones in particular— and last year she had the opportunity to learn about the work of fellow practitioners from around the world at the Getty Conservation Institute.

Sheats-Goldstein House (1961-3), Los Angeles, architect : John Lautner / photos : Suzanne Zahra

Suzanne attended the Getty’s International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage, in Los Angeles — an advanced course for mid-career professionals. She says, “It’s about engaging with other practitioners and learning from their experience in the management and conservation of modern heritage.”

This work is at the intersection between sustainability, conservation and adaptive reuse, and “there’s a tension that comes from that”, explains Suzanne. It’s a tension keenly felt at Lovell Chen, but she points out that Australia punches above its weight in the assessment of values associated with modern heritage.

The Eames House (1949), Los Angeles, architects : Charles and Ray Eames / photos : Suzanne Zahra

“But we need to keep working on it. We’ve made progress in the theory but there’s a gap between what professional heritage practitioners think and what the community thinks. In this country, the general perception of post-colonial heritage is embedded in the Victorian and Edwardian ideals.”

“We know we have to work hard to make these places loved amongst the broader community … there’s just so much more modern building stock in the USA and Europe than we have here.”

left : Salk Institute (1965), San Diego, architect : Louis Kahn
right : Geisel Library (1970), UCSD, architect : William Pereira / photos : Suzanne Zahra

This is an exciting pathway for Lovell Chen. Suzanne’s experience is informing the practice’s philosophy and practice. It’s an important element in our ongoing thinking about the urban environment in Australia, the contribution modern buildings make, how to keep them in use and how to maintain their heritage values.

“It was fun being there,” Suzanne enthuses, “… the scale of the buildings in LA, the technical scope made possible by the Getty’s resources, and meeting people from all over. Very inspiring.”

International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage
A component of Training and Education on the Conservation of Modern Heritage
The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles

Suzanne attended the Getty’s long course, culminating in fieldwork in Los Angeles.