Restoration of modern architecture – Comparative analysis of 3 case studies: Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, Le Corbusier Pavilion in Zurich and BiH History Museum in Sarajevo

In the restoration of modern architecture, the same dilemmas arise as in the restoration of other types of architectural heritage. Attempts to preserve every authentic part of the whole often prove impossible or out of historical context. An example of this type of attempt is the reconstruction of the German Pavilion in Barcelona by Mies van der Rohe. In this case, restorers opted for the approach known as How it was, where it was, which usually involves trying to make "faithful" replicas of the missing parts, difficult in some cases because it often concerns executions made by experimental techniques or characteristics for a specific period in the past. On the other hand, in the spirit of critical restoration, the solution was seen in the conservation of the architectural heritage which is not opposed to the use of contemporary architectural expression. Practical activities such as the restoration of the Le Corbusier Pavilion in Zurich, which was carried out in accordance with a case-by-case approach, represent a clear reference and significant contribution directed towards the development not only of contemporary restoration practice but also of the theory of restoration. Hybrid approaches to the restoration of modern architectural heritage coexist, exhibiting conceptual and technical contradictions, especially in parts of the world where cataclysmic events, such as wars aimed at the destruction of historical heritage, have upset the practice of restoration based on solid theoretical foundations. As an example of this approach is possible to recognize the restoration activities related to the BiH History Museum in Sarajevo.