Publication available for download: Richard Klein & Bernard Toulier (ed.), Architecture de la Culture, Relais du Pouvoir Européen, Paris, docomomo International, 2009 (French/English).
docomomo International initiated in 2004 a multi-year cycle entitled “networks of modernity in the twentieth century” in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Communication and the Centredes Hautes Etudes de Chaillot. In 2005, “the networks of modernity” was devoted to architectures of culture in Europe. During the study days between 16th and 17th December, architects and researchers have explored the history and rehabilitation of Houses of the People and Houses of Culture, places of cultural and artistic diffusion experiencing a sharp rise the twentieth century. Resulting from political will, a new type of cultural institutions, which is as much a history of ideas and social representations than that of the States, was born. These new places designed for mass popular politicized decompartmentalise functions as theater and library, coffee and the gallery of the museumand the theater or the workshop and school. What is the affiliation between People´s House, Volkshaus, Casadel Popolo, Casa del Fascio, Mechanics Institute and House Culture? How to convey the heritage of thes spatial and formal organizations unpublished? Obsolete or restructured today, the Houses of Culture demonstrate great artistic programs, intellectual, administrative and policy of the twentieth century and, as such, entitled to heritage recognition. Between reforms, policy changes and restructuring, now arise related issues use and sustainability of these architectures.
