World’s Leading Experts on Modern House Museum Preservation to Attend Pittsburgh Symposium

The modern era of architecture yielded astonishingly inventive homes, and some of this era’s standout structures are now open to the public as house museums – including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. This year, Fallingwater celebrates its 75th anniversary, and other famous modernist houses are entering their sixth, seventh and even eighth decades of existence.

As they age, these modern houses – which often were radical departures from architectural and design precedents of their time – present interesting and challenging preservation issues. Private Domains/ Public Displays: The Modern House Interpreted, a Symposium in Celebration of Fallingwater’s 75th Anniversary, gathers curators and directors from the world’s leading modernist house museums on April 5 to discuss the unique challenges of interpreting and preserving modernism.

The public is invited to attend the conference, which costs $30 and is presented by Fallingwater, University of Pittsburgh’s Architectural Studies Program, and the Carnegie Museum of Art. The event is free to students and will be held at the Carnegie Museum of Art Theater in Pittsburgh.

Issues for discussion will captivate anyone with an interest in modern architecture. “A tenet of modernism is that structures should remain fresh and alive. How do you convey newness in your interpretation and stewardship of buildings that are now considered historic?” said Fallingwater Curator of Buildings and Collections Justin Gunther.

Gunther, who will present at the symposium, will be joined by curators and directors from around the world. Gunther and Lynda Waggoner, director of Fallingwater and Vice President of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, will speak on Fallingwater and serve as the symposium’s session chairs. Drew Armstrong, director of University of Pittsburgh’s Architectural Studies Program, will give opening remarks.

In addition to Fallingwater, house museums to be discussed, or to be represented by curators and directors, include the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, Conn.; the Farnsworth House in Plano, Ill.; the Tugendhat House in Brno, Czech Republic; the Miller House in Columbus, Ind.; the Schindler House in West Hollywood, Calif.; the Gropius House in Lincoln, Mass.; the Wharton Esherick House in Paoli, Pa.; and the Aalto House in Helsinki, Finland.

For more information or to register, visit Fallingwater.org/125 or call Fallingwater reservations at 724-329-8501.

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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) enhances the region’s quality of life by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC helped to establish ten state parks and has conserved nearly 229,000 acres of natural lands and waterways. The Conservancy owns and operates Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Mill Run, Pa. that symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 140 community gardens and greenspaces that are planted with the help of 12,000 volunteers. The work of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 11,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org.

Media contact:
Genny McIntyre
(412) 586-2368
gmcintyre@paconserve.org