Architectural Archives,
Documentation and Conservation of Modern Architecture

Speaker:
Danilo Matoso Macedo

Danilo Matoso Macedo is an architect at the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, where he has worked since 2004 in the Coordination of Architecture and Urbanism of the Technical Department (CAURB/DETEC). He is among the architects responsible for the conservation and technical documentation of the Palace of the National Congress — the seat of the Brazilian legislature, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, inaugurated in 1960 and part of the World Heritage site of Brasília.
He has owned a private architectural firm since 1996 and has designed constructed projects in Belo Horizonte and Brasília, including the headquarters of the Army Housing Foundation (MGS, 2005) and the renovation of nine residential buildings in Superquadra Norte 302 and four further blocks in Superquadra Norte 202 (Chamber of Deputies, 2004 and ongoing).

Architectural archives provide an essential foundation for understanding and conserving modern architecture. This lecture explores the relationship between archival research, architectural documentation, and conservation practice. It focuses on the work undertaken at Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, examining the archive of the Palace of the National Congress and the role of documentation in supporting the building’s conservation. Within this institutional context, the lecture considers how architectural records can inform our understanding of a building and guide decisions concerning its care. Through this case study, it highlights the relevance of archives not only as repositories of architectural history but also as working resources that connect historical knowledge with the practical responsibilities of conserving modern architectural heritage.

Moderator: YU Yunlong
Venue: Room D1, 5th Floor, Building D, CAUP
Time: 19:00, 5 November 2026