The call for abstract for the 17th International Docomomo Conference, hosted at the School of Architecture of Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Spain, between 6th and 9th September, 2022, under the theme “Modern Design: Social Commitment & Quality of Life” is open until 30th September 2021.
This theme will encourage us to reflect upon how re-thinking interior space in the widest sense was tackled, the different contexts where it was developed and who the main artifices were. If the proposed theme is, in itself, pertinent, today it is of even greater interest as, curiously, the improvement in the health conditions of habitable spaces is an insistent social demand as a result of the international spread on the COVID 19 pandemic.
#01 The Avant-Gardes. First generation architects
This section will analyse the contribution of avantgardes and the designs of recognised architects such as Le Corbusier or Mies van der Rohe, paying special attention to those that transformed households through the mechanization of domestic tasks and the extensive use of ingenious systems of storage and transformable furniture. The search for a healthier and easier life is exemplified in the Margarete Lihotzky’s innovative Frankfurt kitchen (1925). Likewise, it can be claimed that the environmental component was introduced early on by Alvar Aalto with his concern for the landscape, and even Walter Gropius’ social hygiene concerns that invite a re-reading in a similar manner.
#02 Post-war. International expansion
Numerous examples illustrate the worldwide expansion of modern design, now representing timeless models. The aim of this section is to provide a comprehensive reading, although, at the same time, taking geographical particularities into account and contemplating the diversity of cases by analysing relationships and influences.
#03 The Latin American contribution
This section envisages a panorama that will include various generations of architects and from a wide geographical perspective, each location with its own particularities and highlighting their contributions to design and their possible influence.
#04 Women. Pioneers and modern
This section studies the subtleties and, at the same time, the functional designs of female architects, so as to recover their place in history, as essential figures in design and whose works continue to be marketed to this day.
#05 Iberia. Cultural identity
This section deals with the evolution of modern design in Portugal and Spain and analyses both particularities and international influences, bearing in mind that both countries suffered long periods of dictatorships.
#06 New materials and innovative technologies
Modernity was a continuous factory of innovative and experimental solutions that made their aging, sometimes unfortunately, unpredictable. This section will allow us to reflect upon those systems and their development over a long period of time. It will also provoke discussion on the problems, pathologies and specific intervention technologies for rehabilitation.
#07 Urban design and quality of life
This section includes works that investigate the characteristics of modern urban form and public space. Contributions to the processes that make up the modern urban structure will be analysed. There is also room for studies on the design of urban areas focused both on the general approach and on particular elements – pavements, urban furniture… Of interest in this chapter are those reflections that address aspects of the use of public space and the relationship between urban form and climate change, such as planning, the city open to all…
#08 Landscapes and public space
The development of landscape architecture made innovative contributions by opening up formal paths and constituting new models. It was developed both in private gardening, from the courtyard to the roof, as well as in public spaces. The idea of this section is to consider a wide geographical and chronological panorama and to investigate contributions to landscape design for creating comfortable environments, from the scale of the project to the detail of the elements.
Abstract (500 words), written in accordance with the guidelines (.docx) which are available for download here (Call for abstracts template). Abstracts must not include images.
Proposed dates
- 15 July 2021: Call for abstracts.
- 30 September 2021: Abstracts submission deadline.
- 15 November 2021: Notification abstracts selection. Opening date for registration.
- 30 December 2021: Full papers submission deadline (1st version). Earlybird Registration deadline.
- 11 February 2022: Deadline for session chairs to return papers with comments to the speakers.
- 30 March 2022: Full papers submission deadline (final version).
- 15 July 2022: Registration deadline.
More information on the conference’s website: http://www.docomomoconference2022.com
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