Housing for the greatest number

Abstract
Addressing a broader vision, entitled “Housing for All”, this issue is dedicated to the welfare era, when governments across the world established ambitious housing programs to provide housing for the greatest number and improve the citizens’ living conditions, as a symbol of a modern and democratic society. This bold course of action involved radical changes in the built environment, through new approaches to architectural design and experiments in the use of materials and techniques, the creation of space, and social transformation. Nowadays, understanding how to deal with this legacy presents a major challenge, in a continuously changing context, from the technical obsolescence of buildings that no longer meet today’s demanding standards, or fast-moving sociocultural, political and economic values. The aim of this docomomo Journal 65 is to outline how these vast cultural and political ambitions were materialized in various countries, and to analyze the contemporary challenges they face. More than five decades later, are these buildings and neighborhoods resilient or obsolete? In addition to the changes that postmodern society has brought in ways of living, issues such as the demand for spatial and functional transformation, and the updating of regulations on fire, seismic stability, user safety and energy efficiency, are now part of the contemporary agenda. How can these sites be kept alive while satisfying sustainability and contemporary ideas of comfort?

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Modern housing, Post-war housing, Welfare architecture, Mass housing.

Issue 65
Year 2021
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/65.A.O5TLBHP9

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The Home at the core of Modernity, an optimistic architecture

Abstract
Devoted to the theme of single-family houses, given the key role they played in the ideal definition of the Modern Movement architecture, as a symbolic and functional affirmation of the utopian turning of dreams into reality, the aim of this issue is to consider the transformation of daily life, and to address the architectural challenges that arose from the joy contained in what we might call the “architecture of happiness.” As we continue to endure a pandemic that has now lasted for more than a year, docomomo wishes to declare that “till the moment, the best vaccine to prevent contagion was invented by architects: the house”. Thus, in response to the question “How should we live?”, it is intended to debate the house and the home agenda as an important topic at the core of Modern Movement architecture. Nowadays, the growing emphasis on wellbeing goes beyond the seminal ideas that modern houses were “machines à habiter” and is closer to an idealistic vision of a stimulating shell for humans, which is shaped by imagination, experimentation, efficiency, and knowledge.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Modern single-family houses, Modern living space, Architecture of happiness.

Issue 64
Year 2021
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/64.A.S9CV1HMO

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Art and Architecture, a Synthesis

Abstract
The late CIAM discussions, namely the ones that took part in the scope of the Bergamo Conference in 1947, brought social and intensive public aspirations. Between North and South, the new world retook the European avant-garde issues implementing the most collective values for a better future to come. Giedion’s Architecture You and Me or the struggle for a New Monumentality, were the placed questions that received an extraordinary eco from American Architecture which emerged with a creative energy. Therefore, in our days, the aim is to deepen understand the process and to find the paths for the future. A future that we may create with such awareness that may, generously, give us the tools for increase nowadays architecture and city planning.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Art and architecture, Modern art.

Issue 42
Year 2010
Pages 2-5
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/42.A.S6E4WGHX

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Brasilia 1960-2010: Modern Movement Universal Ideal

Abstract
Since Brasilia’s World Heritage inscription in 1987, the city has developed public awareness regarding the value of a major accomplishment in the history of urbanism. The singularity of Brasilia lies in its ability of being simultaneously rooted in the past while looking ahead to the future, envisioning an approach that should affirm Brazil’s industrialization effort and the need to provide access to life quality incorporating a specific genuine cultural tradition; an approach where the new capital should be the image of the homeland. Lúcio Costa, the architect who sensed and perceived the need to rescue architectural heritage, formulated unprecedented theoretical principles, articulating both realities. He was aware of the fact that modern architecture was a powerful means to foster a national identity because, according to modern principles argued in Brazil, a bond should exist between an erudite avant-garde and traditional popular features. Costa revealed the structural resemblance between raw architecture from the 18th Century - the plain Portuguese style - and the new constructions, discovering the same logic, rationality, rigor and strictness.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Brasilia modern architecture, World Heritage, Modern urban design.

Issue 43
Year 2010
Pages 2-5
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/43.A.P34H2K1C

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Modern and Sustainable

Abstract
Modern Movement Architecture is envisioned as a concept that deals with forms, spaces, techniques and social responsibility. In this docomomo Journal, the contributions on this discussion put together modernity and Modern heritage, economy and energy saving, the social mission and the responsibility of architects towards the future. Modern Movement is often mistakenly related to a style, perceived in a skin–deep point of view and superficially adopted as simple form, as a modern shape, when in fact Modern Movement has always shown great concern with such issues, seeking for eficiency and economy, i.e., an accurate use of materials, a design approach that incorporates intelligent saving resources in order to create a better world.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Sustainable architecture, Responsible architecture, Global design.

Issue 44
Year 2011
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/44.A.Y5JILQMJ

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An Aesthetically Sublime Second Nature

Abstract
The search on Bridges and Infrastructures has to do with a matter of connecting. To launch bridges seems to be a kind of life requirement, as far as it is the way to connect sides, which means improving relations and energies, desire and intelligence. Bridges and Infrastructures have the function of connecting pieces of land and the role of creating a connected world. The matter is to make links and establish a network. In fact, it is a global network made of works of art, which have a physical and material presence balancing between values such as economy and elegance and providing a better life for every man. Seeking audaciously for innovation, research contributes to these large scale structures as it has been improving material capacities and technical creation. It is a huge field that lay infinite possibilities for art and science to perceive changes of social, aesthetic, technical standards and norms.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Modern bridges, Modern infrastructures, Modern engineering.

Issue 45
Year 2011
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/45.A.VWHRNH24

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Designing Modern Life

Abstract
The aim is to contribute for the discussion that relates modern heritage and interior space, common daily life and musealization of Modern Interior Spaces, gathered underneath a global strategy, to better understand and preserve these delicate monuments. In fact, the interior space with all devices and furniture pieces is frequently not appreciated as an essential matter in safeguard interventions. Ranging from restoration process research and know-how, new modern materials and techniques are discussed facing up to new conservation process and innovative rehabilitation solutions, as well. One knows that Modern spatiality must require furniture conceived under a unitary design concept, which implies today to identify every detail with the aim of a reconstruction process, where research on documentation is one of the success keys.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Modern interior design, Furniture modern design, Modern living.

Issue 46
Year 2012
Pages 2-5
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/46.A.LVSIMYWB

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Global Design and its Re-Use

Abstract
Thanks to Finland, the motto “Survival of Modern” justifies going deeper in the relation that connects form and function, aesthetics and ethics. That’s also why the argument is Global Design. The aim of this collective and interdisciplinary reflexion is to contribute for the discussion that relates Modern heritage and interior space, common daily life and musealization of Modern Interior Spaces, gathered underneath a global strategy to better understand and preserve these delicate monuments. In fact, the interior space with all devices and furniture pieces is frequently neglected as an essential matter in safeguard interventions.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Modern interior design, Furniture modern design, Modern global design.

Issue 47
Year 2012
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/47.A.6YEJNKWQ

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Ten Years After, the Continent of Hope and Modern Heritage

Abstract
Since the 1990s architectural historians discovered Modern architecture in Africa as part of a cultural production related to colonialism. With the introduction of postcolonial theory in the historiography of architecture, an exclusively ideological critical sense has been developed preventing disciplinary autonomy or practice of architecture and finally condemning any objective look. Recently, the development of concepts such as hybrid or the otherness has been promoting a nuanced historical analysis about architecture and politics in the 20th century in Africa. The recognition that a widespread awareness of Modern Movement architecture has always been serving colonization involves rethinking the basic principle of Modern welfare society and practiced architecture as a mission: how Modern principles have been exchanged, resulting from a Eurocentric culture with the cultures from the East and Africa. In addition, it must be said that the case of Sub–Saharan Lusophone Africa is now beginning to be studied in depth putting together peripheral universes.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Tropical architecture, Design with climate, African modern architecture.

Issue 48
Year 2013
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/48.A.ZDBBU7BS

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For an Architect’s Training towards Responsibility

Abstract
The variety of discussions on architects’ mission, on architectural discipline and the recall on some key figures explain the argument of this Journal entitled For an Architect’s Training. The title quotes Walter Gropius’ “Blueprint for an architect’s training” spread through the French magazine L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui in February 1950 (number 28), dedicated to “Walter Gropius, the spread of an idea” and realized by Paul Rudolph under the direction of Gropius himself who developed his ideas on design education between art and technique, creation, research and applied science.

Keywords
Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Architectural education, Education of modern architecture.

Issue 49
Year 2013
Pages 2-3
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.52200/49.A.A360TYW7

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