Hotel Avila, San Bernardino. Wallace K. Harrison, 1942 (Photo. Luis Toro - Archivo Fundación de la Memoria Urbana)
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 is a non-profit organization 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.
At present, Docomomo International includes 53 chapters and more than 2,300 members, in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania and Africa. In their variety of cultures and experiences, the
chapters represent the true richness of Docomomo International. Since January 2010, the Docomomo International secretariat relocated to Barcelona and is presently hosted by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe. The chair is
Ana Tostoes, architect (ESBAL, 1982), architecture historian (UNL, 1994), member of Docomomo Ibérico, and associate professor at the Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of the Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa; and the secretary general is
Ivan Blasi, architect.
Docomomo Venezuela is the Venezuelan Chapter of Docomomo. It was made official on August 26th, 2010, in the Docomomo International Council Meeting held at Mexico DF during the 11th Docomomo International Conference: "Living in the Urban Modernity". A step forward the research, education, register and promotion of the vast and important modern heritage of Venezuela is taken to broaden the field of action in the country and the impact in favour of this cause. Its President is
Graziano Gasparini, architect and architecture historian, founder of the Dirección de Patrimonio Cultural; its Vice President is
Hannia Gómez, architect. This event is possible thanks to the support of
CENTRO de la Ciudad.Welcome to Docomomo Venezuela!