Traces of a ‘theory of restoration’ at the 1957 Paris International Conference
The Congrès international des architectes et techniciens des monuments historiques takes place in 1957 in Paris. As in the case of the 1931 Conference in Athens, the Paris Conference is held in the aftermath of a world conflict to take stock of the reconstruction process, exchange views, and reconsider existing methodologies in light of the new international context.
Unlike the Athens meeting, yet, this time the Congress, organised by Compagnie des architectes en chef des Monuments historiques focuses on operative issues and leaves out pressing theoretical (why?) and methodological (how?) concerns.
However, these matters of principle and method cannot be easily neglected. The aim of this contribution is to bring to the fore the doctrinal debate and the theoretical discussion points that emerge during the Congress.
