Lina Bo Bardi: Together

The exhibition is a tribute to the legacy of the Italian-Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi (1914-1992): an architect whose work has particular relevance today as a source of inspiration for new generations of builders, users and architects.
Pragmatic and socially engaged, Bo Bardi was an architect for whom people were the focus and starting point of designing. Wholly averse to what she called ‘architectural acrobatics’, working with small budgets, in consultation with users and utilizing whatever was available, she realized projects that stand out both architecturally and socially.

By the time she died, Bo Bardi enjoyed high esteem among connoisseurs. For the public at large, however, her work was for many years overshadowed by that of more flamboyant compatriots such as Oscar Niemeyer. It is only in recent years that the qualities of her work have been rediscovered, possibly because they resonate with the current sobriety and social engagement brought on by the economic crisis.

In order to engineer a direct experience of Bo Bardi’s projects, the exhibition makers have staged a number of situations. By means of projections, visitors can experience how children use the SESC Pompéia. The display ‘The Glass House’ gives an intimate impression of the ambience of the house. Visitors can imagine themselves in the library and while seated in a Bowl Chair, designed by Bo Bardi, can experience the unique atmosphere, the view and the subtle light penetration.
The exhibition also contains a large number of objects and artefacts collected by the architect, self-made toys and miniature furniture. A collection that reveals her love of the Brazilian people and folk culture.