Film: When Brazil was modern

Directed by Fabiano Maciel

"When Brazil Was Modern" is the new documentary by director Fabiano Maciel. Distributed by O2 Play and highly praised during the 30th edition of the "It's All True" festival, one of the most important film events in the country, it received an honorable mention from the jury for its extensive and in-depth research. According to the judges, the feature film offers a compelling interpretation of Brazilian history, with architecture serving as the guiding thread through countless political and aesthetic disputes waged in the country throughout the 20th century.

Today, Brazilian modern architecture is considered one of the most revolutionary and daring of the period, having influenced generations of architects worldwide. But in the early 1930s, choosing an architectural style also meant choosing a project for the country. The winning architectural style would also determine the direction of the visual arts, education, healthcare, and the desired social model for the nation. And the contest wasn't exactly friendly. Quite the opposite. Numerous battles were fought in government offices, universities, and, especially, in the country's newspapers and magazines, where the exchange of accusations was constant. Symbolically, it can be said that the war began in 1935, with the competition to design the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Health in Rio, and culminated with the inauguration of Brasília in 1960.

Produced by Ocean Films, with investment from BB Asset Management and resources from the Audiovisual Sector Fund, When Brazil Was Modern shows how the country abandoned a project of excellence, which dissipated in the face of historical missteps. It abandoned a cutting-edge—and in many ways, utopian—project to once again settle for the muddy, dark sands of the past.

Free

Registration

Registrations must be made here.

Selection will be made in order of registration.

Registration will be open until the start of the activity, on site, as long as there are spaces available.

Participate in the program of debates, workshops and associated activities!

TODAY (28.09):

10am to 2pm – activity Bixiga River Territory reforests Canudos in Horta Denuzia

10am to 6:30pm – 4th Jewelry Festival in the Jewel Park

11am to 12pm – workshop First Half

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm – workshop CLIMATIVA: Climate Action Plan for Brazilian cities

1pm to 9pm – SP Meeting Forum

IN THE NEXT DAYS (29.09 to 04.10)

September 29th to October 3rd – workshop Embodied landscapes

September 30th and October 2nd – Biomaterials Mini-Workshops at the Living Lab

30.09 – Guided tour of Pantanal Action

10/1 – conference Means of production with Jane Hall

10/1 and 2/2 – session 4 and session 5 of the show Cinema, architecture and society at the cinematheque

01.10 – workshop Between blades and gaps: project models in Glulam

01.10 – workshop Grammars of Nature – architectures of the infinitesimal at the Living Lab

02.10 – movie The Strength of Form – bent lenticular beam in wood at IABsp

02.10 – Amerindian Farms in Oca. Amazonia from the Margins to the Extremes: Labya-Yala of FAU-USP

02.10 – tables Preserving biodiversity in the city + Trees and Thermal Justice

03.10 – tables Housing policies for the homeless population and the experience of the FICA Fund + Innovating the Regularization of Affordable Housing + Cultural facilities in adapted historic buildings

03.10 – Workshop on Designing Wooden Structures with Fiber at IABsp

03.10 – Visit to Morro Grande Park

04.10 – Discussion round with Instituto Cambará and guided tour

04.10 – Film: When Brazil was modern

04.10 – Landscape, Geography, and Refugee Birds. A Reading-Performance by Gian Gigi Spina

JOIN! IT'S ALL FREE!

And there's much more until October 19th!

(Activities and projects are still being added; the site will be complete soon)

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.