When Lina Bo Bardi, an Italian-born Brazilian architect, was honored with the first exhibition of her work, it was 1989 and she was already 74 years old. This exhibition took place in Universidade de São Paulo, where Bo Bardi’s dream of a teaching position was denied 30 years earlier. But the institution now held an exhibition showcasing her proposal for revitalizing Salvador, Brazil’s first colonial capital.

This twist of fate underscored a remarkable career, one marked by resilience, reinvention, pivoting, and an eventual profound impact on the architectural landscape of Brazil and beyond.

Early Life and Influences: From Rome to Rio, A Diverse Artistic Journey

Born Achillina Bo in Rome in 1914, Bo Bardi’s artistic inclinations were evident from a young age as she learned how to draw from her father, who was a builder and an amateur visual artist.

Bo Bardi pursued architecture, graduating from the Rome College of Architecture in 1939. Following graduation, she moved to Milan, collaborating with architect Carlo Pagani and initially launched her career as a design journalist—partially due to lack of work in the wartime economy.

She worked for a number of Italian publications, including a position as the deputy director of the iconic design magazine Domus during 1944 and 1945. Nevertheless, the devastation of World War II, the carpet bombing raids of which destroyed Bo Bardi’s office in Milan, forced her to redefine her path.

In 1946, Bo Bardi married fellow journalist and art critic Pietro Maria Bardi. This union would not only be personal but also professional, as the couple would eventually set sail for Brazil in 1947. This move exposed Bo Bardi to a vibrant new culture and a burgeoning modernist movement deeply influenced by the Brazilian landscape.

Style and Notable Works: Modernist Architecture in a Tropical Environment

As an immigrant, Lina Bo Bardi quickly assimilated Brazilian influences into her design philosophy. While her early work showcased a modernist sensibility, it soon evolved into a unique blend. She embraced the beauty of vernacular design and local materials, reinterpreting postwar Italian rationalism with a distinctly Brazilian and tropical flair.

In her prolific career, some of her notable designs included:

The Glass House (Casa de Vidro): This modernist masterpiece served as her own home and exemplifies her fusion of modernism and Brazilian influences.

The São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP): This iconic museum, elevated on pilotis, creates a vibrant public plaza underneath, showcasing Bo Bardi’s commitment to public space and social interaction.

The Pompéia Factory (Centro Cultural São Paulo): This former industrial complex was revitalized by Bo Bardi into a thriving cultural center, demonstrating her dedication to adaptive reuse and creating spaces for the community.

The Solar do Unhão: This historic building was restored by Bo Bardi, highlighting her interest in preserving cultural heritage.

The Chame-Chame House: This private residence showcases Bo Bardi’s use of local materials and reinterpretation of traditional Brazilian design elements.

The Teatro Oficina: This theater renovation project further emphasizes Bo Bardi’s commitment to creating cultural spaces and fostering artistic expression.

A Multi-Faceted Creative: Furniture & Theatre Designer, Curator, Publisher

In addition to her impactful work as an architect, Bo Bardi was a multi- hyphenate creative who dabbled in various other forms of art including furniture design, curating exhibitions, and even theatre production.

Bo Bardi also remained close to her journalistic roots and continued publishing activities, as evidenced by her co-founding and editing of Habitat magazine in 1950, which described itself as a “review of architecture and art in Brazil”.

Her commitment to social responsibility extended to her role as an educator, actively participating in lectures and discussions to advocate for a more socially conscious approach to architecture.

Ongoing Legacy: Creative Perseverance When Times are Tough

When Bo Bardi posthumously received Special Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2021 Venice Architectural Biennial – at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic kept unfolding – the curator Hashim Sarkis commented: “Lina Bo Bardi also exemplifies the perseverance of the architect in difficult times whether wars, political strife, or immigration, and her ability to remain creative, generous, and optimistic throughout.”

Sarkis further remarked that Bo Bardi’s powerful buildings stand out in their design and in the way that they bring architecture, nature, living, and community together and how “in [Bo Bardi’s] hands, architecture becomes truly a convening social art.”

Indeed, Bo Bardi’s professional life unfolded against a backdrop of dramatic societal shifts. World War II and Brazil’s military dictatorship – which lasted between 1964 and 1985 – were just some of the events that marked a period of political unrest and stark social inequalities.

Nevertheless, Lina Bo Bardi’s multifaceted contributions transcended the realm of design, leaving a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Brazil.