Founded in 1990 as one of the first national chapters of Docomomo International, on 9 October 1995 Docomomo Italia was established as a cultural association, thus beginning its activities in a more structured way. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Association, and to celebrate this milestone, we have decided to organize a biennial Congress, open to the voices of the members and to dialogue with institutions, universities, administrations, professional orders and citizens.
The Congress – since 2005, when an international event titled “The modern between conservation and transformation” was held in Trieste for to mark the tenth anniversary – will be an essential moment of meeting and discussion for those who work in the field of documentation, protection, intervention and valorisation of the Modern heritage. It will be hosted in various locations across Italy, in order to bring out the numerous resources and territorial projects.

Topics
The first edition, scheduled for on 17-19 October 2025, and organised in collaboration with the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara, aims to reconnect the threads of a journey that never truly ended. Though document through the website, publications, seminars and training activities promoted by Docomomo Italia over the years, recent times have brought new challenges for twentieth-century architecture, urban planning and landscape. These challenges include material and structural obsolescence, the need for improvement/adaptation, reuse, regeneration, as well as the most recent legislative and procedural updates. For this reason, the 2025 Congress is dedicated to the idea of transition, not only in energetic or ecological sense, but considered as a condition of the Modern heritage, in particular of the second half of the twentieth century. This condition involves difficulties in following up the knowledge that derives from the study of its characteristics and values, the activation of effective forms of protection, the dissemination of good intervention practices, the triggering of processes of valorisation and reuse that do not erase its identity or memory.
We hope to receive proposals for contributions capable of covering a broad spectrum of topics.

The new frontiers of protection and intervention: what are we learning from recent experiments and applications conducted not only in our country, but by comparing our experiences with international ones.

The trans-scalarity of the heritage of the Modern: where architecture, city and landscape dialogue, thus allowing both to promote views that cross scales and disciplines, and to highlight how this heritage must be considered as a living legacy.

The relationship between the historic city and the heritage of the twentieth century, particularly significant in the city that hosts us, Ferrara: a dialectical and fertile relationship that sees projects and achievements of the short century insert themselves into the Italian city often without compromise with the surrounding environment, generating balance and dialogue, spatiality characterized by the “happiness of the new”.

These themes are intertwined with some lines of research and action relevant to this architectural and urban heritage in transition, such as those concerning architecture, equipment and facilities for public use that have been at the center of the study and awareness- – raising activity of Docomomo Italia in recent years – schools, stadiums and other sports facilities, cinemas, motorway service stations – as well as with the issues raised by the transformations linked to programs and sources of funding – from the facade bonus to the 110% bonus, from the PNRR to some policies and projects promoted by the EU – which have rarely shown sensitivity towards the protection of twentieth-century architecture.

Contributions may focus on various aspects of the transition, material, structural aspects, linked to the building envelope or interior fittings, changes in intended use or typological aspects, in buildings or spaces of public or private property.

We also invite interdisciplinary approaches drawing from architectural studies, urban history, visual and media studies. Visual archives (photographs, films, documentaries…) are especially encouraged as sources that document the construction and evolution of Modern architecture in Italy.

The extraordinary legacy of thought and works of Françoise Choay, recently deceased, also invites reflections that critically address the significance of her renewed sensitivity towards the conservation of heritage.

How to participate
Submitted abstracts will be peer-reviewed and organized in parallel sessions by the Scientific Committee of the Congress, then they will be presented and discussed according to the guidelines provided upon acceptance. Full papers will undergo a double blind peer review and will be published in a volume with ISBN; changes may be required. Texts and images must be sent by January 18, 2026.

The Congress will take place at the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara, Palazzo Tassoni Estense, via della Ghiara 36, and the teaching headquarters in via Quartieri 8, on October 17 and 18, while on October 19 guided tours of the twentieth-century architecture in Ferrara and its province will be organized. The program of the visits and the related participation fees will be announced with the Congress program.

Abstract requirements
To participate in the conference, you are required to send an abstract of a maximum of 3,000 characters (including spaces), including the title, authors (maximum four) with an indication of affiliations and any reference author, three keywords, a significant image, a short biographical note (maximum 500 characters) and any short bibliography. Please use the template available in the LINKS AND DOCUMENTS section, sending it in PDF format.

To send the abstract and to request other information relating to the Conference, write to the email address convegno2025@docomomoitalia.it

Participation
The Conference will take place exclusively in person, so abstracts will be accepted if at least one author is present. Only contributions actually presented during the Conference will be included in the final publication.

The registration fee for the Congress must be paid by those who have received acceptance of the abstract, and by the listeners, by the deadline of September 28, 2025. The methods and data for payment will be communicated at the same time as the acceptance of the abstract. It will not be possible to accept registrations during the days of the Conference, nor accept cash payments.

Participation fees

Docomomo Italia members:
Senior speaker 150 euros – junior 100 euros

Non-members:
Senior speaker 200 euros – junior 150 euros

Attendance as listeners is free for Docomomo Italia members and for students and doctoral students at the University of Ferrara. For non-members, the participation fee is 30 euros.

Seniors include permanent staff of universities and public administrations of any age, as well as all participants over 35 years of age.

Important dates

– Abstract submission deadline: JUNE 15, 2025

– Abstract acceptance notification: JUNE 30, 2025

– Registration start: JULY 1, 2025

– Registration deadline: SEPTEMBER 28, 2025

– Full paper submission deadline for publication: JANUARY 18, 2026

Scientific Committee

Matteo Abita (University of L’Aquila-Docomomo Italy), Antonello Alici (Polytechnic University of Marche-Docomomo Italy), Paola Ascione (Federico II University of Naples-Docomomo Italy), Gioconda Cafiero (Federico II University of Naples-Docomomo Italy), Ugo Carughi (ICOMOS-Docomomo Italy), Giorgio Danesi (IUAV University of Venice-Docomomo Italy), Sara Di Resta (IUAV University of Venice-Docomomo Italy), Rita Fabbri (University of Ferrara), Romeo Farinella (University of Ferrara), Alessandra Marin (University of Ferrara-Docomomo Italy), Marco Mulazzani (University of Ferrara), Paolo Sanjust (University of Cagliari-Docomomo Italy), Maria Margarita Segarra Lagunes (University of RomaTre-Docomomo Italy), Rosalia Vittorini (Docomomo Italy).

Organizing Committee

Marco Bussoli (University of Ferrara), Giulia Casolino (University of Trieste), Luca Esposito (Federico II University of Naples-Docomomo Italy), Alessandra Marin (University of Ferrara-Docomomo Italy), Caterina Rondina (University of Ferrara), Emma Tagliacollo (Docomomo Italy).

Contacts

email: convegno2025@docomomoitalia.it

website: https://www.docomomoitalia.it/convegno-docomomo-italia-2025/