Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 October 2023, within the framework of the project of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan for the research and preservation of the heritage of Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI, the conference “Where in the World is Tashkent” opened.

The opening session “Museums and the Preservation of Architecture” was attended by the Chairman of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan Gayane Umerova, as well as the Director of the Museum of Anthropology and History of Mexico Eduardo Escalante Carrillo, the Director of the Swiss Museum of Architecture Andreas Rubi, the General Director of the Pinacoteca Brera and the National Library of Bridense in Milan James Bradburn. Session moderator: Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Cartier Foundation, Beatrice Grenier.

The session discussed the role of cultural institutions in critically rethinking the history of architecture and the potential of museums in generating knowledge and important examples of preserving modernist heritage.

The conference venue is the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, one of the most remarkable buildings of Tashkent modernism.

The program of the first day of the “Where in the World is Tashkent” conference continued with the session “Preservation as an architectural project”.

Columbia University Buell Center Director Lucia Alias, Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Toronto Aziza Chauni, Director of Historic Preservation and Partner, Beyer Blinder Belle Richard Southwick, Union of Architects of Uzbekistan member Alexander Kuranov, and Professor of the Faculty of Architecture at Ajou University in Tashkent Farhod Rikhsiev discussed the variety of approaches to preservation architecture around the world by conservation experts, practicing architects and curators.

The moderator of the discussion was the architect, founder of the Grace architectural bureau, coordinator of the Tashkent.Modernism XX/XXI project Ekaterina Golovatyuk.

The Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI project is being implemented with the support of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan.

The final event and central report of the first day of the Where in the World is Tashkent conference was the speech of the famous Dutch architect, partner of the OMA architectural bureau, Rem Koolhaas.

Drawing on a series of case studies and recent work by OMA, Rem Koolhaas’s lecture shared his ideas for the future of heritage conservation with participants.

The conference is held to highlight the modernist heritage of Tashkent. The event also aims to exchange experiences and ideas at the international level to implement a comprehensive strategy for preserving the city’s architectural heritage.

The Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI project is being implemented with the support of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan.