paulo mendes da rocha gives archive to portuguese centre for architecture

the collection of the brazilian architect paulo mendes da rocha, 2006 pritzker laureate, has been donated to the archive of casa da arquitectura — the portuguese centre for architecture. the archive — now in porto — includes all the material produced during his long professional life, from the 1950s to the present day, comprising nearly 8,800 items relating to 320 projects. in total the archive includes approximately 6,300 sketches and drawings, 3,000 photographs and slides, a set of models made by the architect himself and around 300 publications.

designboom visited paulo mendes da rocha’s office in 2013 — see the studio visit article here
image © designboom (also main image)

casa da arquitectura will hold a monographic exhibition dedicated to paulo mendes da roch in mid-2022, whose curatorial team will include architect catherine otondo, who was involved in the collection inventory process together with architect berta oliveira. the collection will soon be available online, allowing universal access to all documents. for research and study purposes, casa also provides high resolution images free of charge, thus promoting research and the development of knowledge about the work of the brazilian architect.

architect martin corullon of metro arquitetos at paulo mendes da rocha’s studio in 2013
image © designboom

‘casa da arquitectura is committed to maintain the unicity of the collection, presenting it to the world through its digital platforms and sharing and making available to researchers, students, universities at zero cost, promoting the study, publication and research on this very important work,’ says executive director of casa da arquitectura, nuno sampaio. ‘the work of paulo mendes da rocha is recognized for its merit and quality throughout the world, adding to it a recognized and published universal thought. he could have chosen any institution in the world to incorporate his collection, so i am delighted that he has chosen to integrate it into casa da arquitectura.’

mendes da rocha shows designboom a model in his studio
image © designboom

‘we are very proud to welcome in portugal the complete collection of the prestigious brazilian architect paulo mendes da rocha, author of the national coach museum, in lisbon,’ adds portugal’s minister of culture, graça fonseca. ‘it is with confidence in the institution casa da arquitectura – portuguese centre for architecture and in the work developed by it in the treatment, conservation and public dissemination of the different collections that it has been hosting, that I welcome this very important collection for the history and knowledge of contemporary architecture worldwide.’ casa da arquitectura received the support from the portuguese government for its activities, through the ministry of culture.

in 2019, casa da arquitectura created a study and documentation center that will promote and encourage the investigation of the collection, namely with the creation of research grants in partnership with several public institutions and universities. casa da arquitectura is responsible for preserving the collection and will manage the lending policy of the various elements for multiple uses — exhibitions, publications and other forms of dissemination of the work.