Docomomo International | Conferences

Sixth International Docomomo Conference

Brasília, September 20–22, 2000.

The Modern City Facing the Future

The Brazilian Docomomo chapter, together with the Graduate Program in Architecture and Urbanism of the School of Architecture hosted the Sixth International Docomomo Conference, in Brasília, Brazil, from September 20 to 22, 2000. The theme was "The Modern City Facing the Future".

The development of Brasília, which began in 1955, relied on the essential contribution of the two most prominent Brazilian architects, Lúcio Costa, author of the city's 'Plano Piloto' and Oscar Niemeyer, responsible for the design of the public buildings. This ensemble is the foremost achievement in Brazilian modern architecture and one of the most relevant urban and architectural events of the twentieth century. It has been recognized as such by its listing as one of Unesco's World Heritage cities.

To propose Brasilia implied the choice of a main theme akin to general urban propositions as well as to particular realizations of modern urbanism and the architecture it has brought forth. Reflecting the role the new capital played after its inauguration as a starting point, modern urban principles were questioned, their presence in our contemporary world evaluated and their future development assessed. As social issues were of paramount relevance to the modern movement, the chasm between the projected city and the lived-in city opened up a whole field of inquiries and research which had yet to be exploited. Since the modern urban and architectural experience has become a reality, preservation issues were also addressed, both from an urban and from a technological point of view, emphasizing on the permanence of modern structures.

Read the table of contents of the proceedings of the Sixth International Docomomo Conference: “The Modern City Facing the Future.”