In architecture, the 1960’s decade exceeds its temporal limits; and today, it is more alive than ever. And so is Modernism - although it has been transformed, along the last hundred years, from avant-garde to tradition. Besides, when critically considered, several of the current architectural and urban professional practices can have their roots traced back to the heritage and legacy of the optimistic, progressive and fertile years 1955-75.
The extended 1960s decade is a rich period of significant events, works, trends and debates. The X DOCOMOMO SEMINAR BRASIL 2013 wants to be an appropriate opportunity to explore, without depleting, some ofthat decade’s themes. It proposes a more focused approach on the Brutalism, and welcomes the possibility ofopening-upas many paths as possible to approach this subject. It aspires to stimulate and inspire a plurality of contributions, aiming into a comprehensive and variedparticipationand debates.
The X DOCOMOMO SEMINAR BRASIL 2013’s call for papers asks for the participation of professionals, researchers, scholars and students interested in the architecture and the material and urban culture of the years 1955-75, or, the extended 1960s. It seeks critical proposals and studies about the works and debates of architecture and urbanism of the extended 1960s, with emphasis on the Brutalism, inside Brazilian, Latin-American and International architectural and cultural panoramas, considering their dialogues and contrapositions. It looks for contributionsthat would bring forth, the works, debates and issues of the 1960s considered from a 21st century point of view. It suggests some possible broad themesthat, without confining the variety of the inputs, is aimed as to open the floor for contributions:
WORKS: studies aimed at the reconnaissance and critical reflection about Brutalist works designed in the 1955-75 years, considered in their constructive, technological, restoration and preservation aspects, amongst others; and, simultaneously, considered as relevant knots of an international Brutalist connection web, whose proper acknowledgment would be apt to reveal affinities and differences, encouraging new approaches to the subject. Close readings and study-cases, taken from isolate works to extended ensembles, inside studies that would necessarily go beyond the basic documental and descriptive task, as to also propose some theoretical reflection and/or critical considerations - about these works, their discourses and narratives, their position in their historical moments, their repercussions in the contemporaneityand on the recent debates on the cultural heritage preservation.
INFRASTRUCTURES: studies aimed at the reconnaissance and critical reflection about large civil engineering works -like power plants, dams, bridges, viaducts and/or any other infrastructural enterprises - implemented during the extended decade of the 1960s, in which the distinctive use of apparent concrete may suggest a connection with Brutalism and its technical and constructive aspects, exploring the interfaces between urbanism, landscape, architecture, civil engineering and civil construction. Close readings and study-cases that would necessarily go beyond the basic documental and descriptive task, as to also propose some theoretical reflection and/or critical considerations - about these works, their discourses and narratives in their historical moments, their repercussions in the contemporaneity and on the recent debates on the cultural and environmental heritage preservation.
CONNECTIONS: studies proposing a innovative theoretical and critical understandingof Brutalism, considered as a most relevant architectural trend of the extended decade of the 1960s, considering its works, connections, discourses and narratives in their historicalframes but also, as a meaningful legacy and heritage for contemporary works and debates in architecture and culture.
DATE: October 15th to 18th, 2013.
ADDRESS: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUC-PR)