The challenge of conserving the private archives of modern architects: the Janete Costa inventory case

Abstract

The task of conserving the vast iconographic documentation produced By modern architects is a crucial issue in the conservation of architecture, given the rapid disappearance of built examples. This documentation suffers a serious risk due to the dissolution of offices after the death or retirement of their owners, given the small size of Brazilian architecture offices and the heavy responsibility imposed to the architect’s family. This article reports the experience of completing the inventory of the works by architect Janete Costa (1932-2008), who had a decisive contribution in interior design, product design, restoration of historic buildings, and the production and dissemination of Brazilian arts & crafts. Her work can be seen not only in the Brazilian northeast, but also in several Brazilian cities across the country. When the architect died, the office headquarters in Recife received the entirety of her collection, dispersed around the offices she and her husband, Acácio Gil Borsoi, held in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. This collection, now gathered in Recife, includes plans, photographs, magazines, slides, documents, models, graphics from exhibitions and videos. The inventory project includes cleaning, organizing, conserving and making her most important works available on a website. A multidisciplinary team was created and includes researcher architects, architects specialized in interior design, and information technology and web design advisors.