DOCOMOMO International was established in the Netherlands in 1990 to draw attention to the plight of some of the pioneering early modern buildings which were decaying for lack of a current use. At the initial conference in Eindhoven the Eindhoven Statement was agreed as the foundation for the activities of DOCOMOMO in each of its member countries. The international headquarters have been located in the Netherlands and Paris, and is now located in Barcelona, Spain.
DOCOMOMO aims to increase awareness of Modern architecture, urbanism and landscapes by researching, documenting, lobbying and educating. DOCOMOMO promotes the exchange of knowledge about this important legacy through its national working parties in over 50 countries around the world.
DOCOMOMO International publishes a biannual journal and holds a biennial conference, both of which promote issues of concern and scholarship to a wider world community.
Eindhoven-Seoul Statement
DOCOMOMO’s main goals were brought together in the Eindhoven Statement, which was issued at the conclusion of the founding conference in 1990 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and modified at the Docomomo International Conference in Seoul, Korea in 2014:
- Bring the significance of the Modern Movement to the attention of the public, the authorities, the professions and the educational community.
- Identify and promote the surveying of the works of the Modern Movement.
- Promote the conservation and (re)use of buildings and sites of the Modern Movement.
- Oppose destruction and disfigurement of significant works.
- Foster and disseminate the development of appropriate techniques and methods of conservation and adaptive (re)use.
- Attract funding for documentation, conservation and (re)use.
- Explore and develop new ideas for the future of a sustainable built environment based on the past experiences of the Modern Movement.