Lina Bo Bardi

Lina Bo Bardi was a Brazilian modernist architect who was prolific and idiosyncratic. She immigrated to Brazil in 1946 and added simple building techniques and naturalistic forms to her designs to create large, multiuse spaces that promoted public life. This is the first comprehensive study of her life and work, presented by Zeuler Lima, who examines how ethical and social considerations influenced her intellectual engagement with modern architecture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2019
Publisher: Yale University Press

One of the most significant architects of the 20th century, Lina Bo Bardi (1914-1992) was remarkably prolific and intriguingly idiosyncratic. A participant in the efforts to reshape Italian culture in her youth, Bo Bardi immigrated to Brazil in 1946, where her practice evolved within the social and cultural realities of her adopted country. While she continued to work with industrial materials, she added simple building techniques and naturalistic forms to her designs, striving to create large, multiuse spaces that promoted public life.

Lina Bo Bardi is the first comprehensive study of the architect's life and work. Author Zeuler Lima, the leading authority on Bo Bardi, presents her activities on two continents, examining how ethical and social considerations influenced her intellectual engagement with modern architecture and providing an indispensable guide to her writings and her experimental, iconic designs.

Bo Bardi's prolific career spanned several decades, during which she created a wide range of buildings and projects. Her most famous works include the Casa de Vidro (Glass House) in São Paulo, which she designed in the 1940s, and the SESC Pompéia (SESC Pompeia) in São Paulo, which she designed in the 1950s. These buildings are known for their innovative use of glass and concrete, as well as their simple, functional designs.

In addition to her architectural work, Bo Bardi was also a prolific writer and artist. She published several books, including "The Architecture of Lina Bo Bardi" (1986), which provides a comprehensive overview of her life and work. She also created a series of paintings and sculptures that reflected her interest in nature and the human form.

Bo Bardi's approach to architecture was influenced by a range of factors, including her experiences in Italy and Brazil, her commitment to social justice, and her belief in the power of design to transform society. She was particularly interested in the relationship between architecture and the natural environment, and her designs often incorporated elements of nature into their structures.

One of Bo Bardi's most significant contributions to modern architecture was her emphasis on the importance of public spaces. She believed that buildings should be designed to promote social interaction and community engagement, and her designs often included spaces that were open to the public, such as parks and plazas.

Bo Bardi's approach to architecture was also influenced by her commitment to social justice. She was a vocal advocate for the rights of women and the poor, and her designs often reflected her concern for the needs of these groups. For example, she designed several buildings for social housing projects in Brazil, which provided affordable housing for low-income families.

Despite her many achievements, Bo Bardi's life was not without its challenges. She faced discrimination and marginalization throughout her career, particularly in Brazil, where she was often seen as an outsider and a foreigner. However, she remained committed to her work and her vision for a better world, and her legacy continues to inspire architects and designers around the world.

In conclusion, Lina Bo Bardi is one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, and her life and work continue to be celebrated and studied today. Her innovative use of materials, her commitment to social justice, and her emphasis on the importance of public spaces have made her a lasting influence on modern architecture. Despite the challenges she faced, Bo Bardi's legacy continues to inspire architects and designers around the world, and her work remains a testament to the power of design to transform society.

Weight: 866g
Dimension: 222 x 257 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300244229