High-Tech Heritage - (Im)permanence of Innovative Architecture

The high-tech architecture of the 1970s–1990s is typically characterized by the use and exhibition of advanced technologies. In terms of appearance, these buildings often have innovative façades, supporting structures accentuated in color, and expressively displayed technology systems. Unfortunately, however, the rapid obsolescence of technology has often led to the complete replacement of the very systems that defined the architectural form. In 2023, an international conference at ETH Zurich in collaboration with Bauhaus-Universität Weimar explored the question of how best to deal with the structural legacy of technologically innovative architecture. This book summarizes the results and provides an overview of the current state of research.