Document: Mhairi McVicar & Dr. Cristian Suau

published: The Challenge of Change: Dealing with the Legacy of the Modern Movement, Proceedings of the 10th International Docomomo Conference, ed. By Dirk Van den Heuvel, Maarten Mesman, Wido Quist, and Bert Lemmens, (Amsterdam, IOS Press, 2008), pp 81-86

NEGLECTFULNESS IN THE PRESERVATION AND CONTINUITY OF LATE-MODERN ARCHITECTURE: THE CASE OF ST PETER’S SEMINARY BY GILLESPIE, KIDD AND COIA

This paper examines Manfredo Tafuri’s redefinition of Modernism as a non-monolithic system and reviews St Peters Seminary as an architectural myth which has been fossilized by passive neglecters and utopian idealists. Neither an archeological ruin nor an icon, the complex had a spectacularly short life in its intended use. The success and failure of the project lies within the collision of visionary forces on the brink of ideologies, resulting in a rigid, mono-functional and isolated structure which retains value through recognition of the permissiveness of conviction. Valuing the structure as a myth or icon hinders continuity: this paper argues for redefinitions in favour of hybridization and ambiguity in order to permit the meaningful re-use of St Peters.

Photo credit: St Peters Seminary. Architects: Gillespie Kidd & Coia. Photo: Mhairi McVicar.