The inaugural conference, Where in the World Is Tashkent, took place on 18–19 October 2023 at the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan. Organised by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) as part of the Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI initiative, the conference brought together architects, historians, museum professionals, conservation specialists, and cultural practitioners from around the world to explore the research, documentation, and conservation of Tashkent's modern architectural heritage.
The conference was dedicated to the memory of the distinguished architectural historian Jean-Louis Cohen (1949–2023), whose work made a significant contribution to the international understanding of modern architecture and inspired the project's development.
Presented alongside the conference, the exhibition Tashkent Modernism. Index opened at the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, showcasing the project's research through contemporary photography, archival material, architectural drawings, and historical documentation.
Together, the conference and exhibition marked the first international forum devoted to presenting the research behind Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI and fostering dialogue on the documentation, conservation, and future study of the city's modern architectural heritage.
PROGRAMME
Over two days, the programme brought together keynote lectures, panel discussions, and research presentations across three thematic strands: the conservation of modernist architecture, the reimagining of public space, and the role of museums and cultural institutions in architectural research and public engagement.
Sessions examined architectural, technical, and cultural approaches to documenting, conserving, and adaptively reusing twentieth-century buildings, drawing on case studies from around the world. Discussions also considered Tashkent's place within the wider history of modern architecture, with particular attention to the city's UNESCO World Heritage nomination and the opportunities it opened for international collaboration.
All sessions were held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Uzbek and Russian.
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS
The conference opened with a keynote lecture by Rem Koolhaas, A New Preservation, which explored preservation as an active and evolving design practice, extending beyond the protection of historic buildings.
Over two days, the conference welcomed an international group of speakers, including James M. Bradburne, Sumayya Vally, Shumon Basar, Eduardo A. Escalante Carrillo, Noura Al Sayeh-Holtrop, Andreas Ruby, Lorenza Baroncelli, and Davide Del Curto, who shared perspectives from architecture, museums, conservation, research, and cultural practice.
The Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI research team was represented by architectural historian Boris Chukhovich and architect Ekaterina Golovatyuk, who presented the project's research and methodology. Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) and Chairperson of the National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO, outlined the Foundation's approach to the research, conservation, and international promotion of Uzbekistan's architectural heritage.
Together with architects, historians, researchers, museum professionals, and conservation specialists from Uzbekistan and abroad, the conference fostered an interdisciplinary exchange on modern architectural heritage and its future documentation, conservation, and interpretation.