Gerard Rey A. Lico, PhD, a professor of architecture at the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Architecture (CA), completed an international course on the conservation of modern heritage at the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles, California, USA.

The Getty Conservation Institute is a private and non-profit institution that works to advance the conservation practice in the visual arts through scientific research, education and training, field projects, and dissemination of information. 

According to the institute’s website, the course “aims to advance the conservation of modern heritage, landscapes, and architecture by providing participants with both methodological and practical tools.”

The course was participated in by 26 professionals and scholars, chosen from more than 80 applicants from over 20 countries. The course had virtual instructional modules from May until July. Participants then convened in early August in Los Angeles, USA for two weeks of intensive coursework through lectures, learning exercises, site visits, and local case studies to synthesize and apply the knowledge gained during the remote sessions.

Lico is the director of the Research Office at the CA. He practices architecture as a heritage conservation professional and designer of institutional buildings.

In a material Lico provided UPDate Online, he is a prolific author of publications on Filipino architecture and cultural studies, curator of architectural exhibitions, and director of documentaries on Philippine architecture. He has been involved in the conservation of Philippine landmarks such as the Manila Metropolitan Theater, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, and the core buildings of the UPD. He also served as a consultant for conservation planning initiatives for other local and national heritage sites across the country. Apart from currently serving as consulting architect for the City of Valenzuela, he heads a multidisciplinary, research-oriented design consultancy practice.—With a report from the CA