About

Docomomo International is a non-profit organization dedicated to documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement. Initiated in 1988 by Hubert-Jan Henket, architect and professor, and Wessel de Jonge, architect and research fellow, at the School of Architecture at the Technical University in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
In 2002, the Docomomo International secretariat relocated to Paris and was hosted by the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in the Palais de Chaillot. The chair and secretary general were Maristella Casciato, architect and architectural historian and Émilie d’Orgeix, architectural historian, respectively, with Anne-Laure Guillet being director. In January 2010, the Docomomo International secretariat relocated to Barcelona, hosted by the Fundacion Mies van der Rohe. Currently Docomomo International is hosted in Lisbon, at Instituto Superior Tecnico – Lisbon University. The chair is Ana Tostões, architect (ESBAL, 1982), architecture historian (UNL, 1994), member of Docomomo Iberico, and Full Professor at the Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of the Instituto Superior Técnico – Lisbon University.

Mission

In the last decades, the architectural heritage of the modern movement appeared more at risk than during any other period. This built inheritance glorifies the dynamic spirit of the Machine Age. At the end of the 1980s, many modern masterpieces had already been demolished or had changed beyond recognition. This was mainly due to the fact, that many were not considered to be elements of heritage, that their original functions have substantially changed and that their technological innovations have not always endured long-term stresses.

Docomomo International’s missions are to:

  • act as watchdog when important modern movement buildings anywhere are under threat
  • exchange ideas relating to conservation technology, history and education
  • foster interest in the ideas and heritage of the modern movement
  • elicit responsibility towards this recent architectural inheritance.

Since its creation, Docomomo International has experienced a rapid growth, establishing itself as a major player not only in the realm of conservation, but also in the broader field of architectural culture. The pluralist, interdisciplinary nature of Docomomo International, due to its ability to bring together historians, architects, town-planners, landscape architects, conservationists, teachers, students and public officials, has been a strong asset.

At present, Docomomo International includes 77 chapters and more than 3,000 members, in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania and Africa. In their variety of cultures and experiences, the chapters represent the true richness of Docomomo International.

Eindhoven-Seoul Statement

Docomomo’s main goals are brought together in the Eindhoven Statement which was issued at the conclusion of the founding conference in 1990. It was updated in Seoul, 2014, where it was approved the Eindhoven-Seoul Statement:

Docomomo International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement. It aims to:

  • Bring the significance of the architecture of the Modern Movement to the attention of the public, the authorities, the professionals and the educational community.
  • Identify and promote the surveying of the works of the Modern Movement.
  • Promote the conservation and (re)use of buildings and sites of the Modern Movement.
  • Oppose destruction and disfigurement of significant works.
  • Foster and disseminate the development of appropriate techniques and methods of conservation and adaptive (re)use.
  • Attract funding for documentation conservation and (re)use
  • Explore and develop new ideas for the future of a sustainable built environment based on the past experiences of the Modern Movement.

Constitution

Docomomo International’s Constitution was approved in Eindhoven on September 14, 1990. It was:

Amended in Dessau, September 18, 1992 (see Newsletter 8, p.8)
Amended by written vote, May 1, 1993 (see Journal 9, p.10-11)
Amended in Barcelona, September 16, 1994 (see Journal 12, p.8-10)
Approved in Sliac, September 20, 1999
Amended in Delft, December 15, 2000
Amended in Mexico City, August 26, 2010 (see Journal 43, p.88)
Amended in Lisbon, September 8, 2016
Amended in Ljubljana, August 30, 2018

docomomo Constitution

Executive Committee

Ana Tostões

Chair of Docomomo International

Maite Palomares

17th Docomomo International Conference Representative

Louise Noelle

ICSs Representative

Zara Ferreira

Former Secretary General

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board acts as a consultant board for the Presidency and Secretariat on main Docomomo issues. The actual members of the Advisory Board are:

France Vanlaethem

Docomomo Canada-Quebec

Henrieta Moravcikova

Docomomo Slovakia

Horacio Torrent

Docomomo Chile

João Belo Rodeia

Docomomo Iberia

Louise Noelle

Docomomo Mexico

Richard Klein

Docomomo France

Scott Robertson

Docomomo Australia

Theodore Prudon

Docomomo US

Timo Tuomi

Docomomo Finland

Wessel de Jonge

Docomomo Netherlands

Yoshiyuki Yamana

Docomomo Japan

Chapters

There are currently 77 Docomomo Chapters across the globe, which play a vital role in the organization. They provide insight into their respective countries’ activities towards preservation of the modern movement’s heritage and act as local advisory bodies.

ISCs

Docomomo International has seven International Specialist Committees (ISC) comprised of experts on Registers, Technology, Urbanism+Landscape, Education+Training, Interior Design, Publications working under Docomomo International’s supervision.