Modern Movement and Digital Challenges was the title of the 17th Docomomo Germany conference, which was set in the building of the Akademie der Künste (ADK) organized by Docomomo Deutschland and Detmold School of Architecture and Interior Architecture (TH OWL).

Unfortunately, it cannot be said that modernism is highly valued, therefore DoCoMoMo, an association for the Documentation and Conservation of Buildings of the Modern Movement was founded in 1988. In current, very dynamic times, Docomomo needs to adapt as much as possible to reach new audiences. Therefore the topics of the conference were bringing into the forefront different aspects of digitization related to archives, museums, social media, planning as well as design tools with the focus on the technical digitals aspects and how digital tools can help to involve different users to communicate and disseminate visions emanating from modern movement. 

The international conference presented a new format, a combination of invited keynote speeches and selected scientific lectures in three thematic blocks: From Archives to the City, From Files to Media and Research to Practice. 

In the first thematic block From Archives to the City three European cities, Kaunas, Skopje and Antwerp presented their experiences with the digitization of archive materials on buildings.

Afterwards, three examples From Files to Media discussed the accessibility or difficulties in making the information accessible to the public. The last, Research to Practice presented research projects on user tools that aim to support work in urban planning and architectural practice.

In the evening architectural photographer Jean Molitor presented his movie Wettlauf gegen die Zeit and explained his photography as a mean to raise awareness about the role of architecture for community-building. Molitor travels all over the world and photographs buildings from the modernity. His photos often document outstanding works of modern art one last time before demolition.

Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19, some of the speaker had to be activated via Skype. Of all things, the two keynote speakers Donatella Fioretti and José Gutierrez Marquez were excused at short notice.