On December 3, the KPF Associate Principal delivered a presentation on his own research at the 16th DOCOMOMO Brazil Seminar, hosted by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Porto Alegre.
Rafael’s paper, “American Monumentalities, Modern and Pre-Modern: First-person Interventions in the Farley Building and in the United Nations Headquarters” showcases his experience working on KPF’s Meta Farley project as well as his previous work on renovating numerous floors in the United Nations’ Secretariat Building. The piece situates both buildings in context with one another and explores their intrinsic characteristics, analyzing how these translated into specific design decisions throughout both projects.
The paper was presented in a session called “American Monumentalities”, which critically examines the large-scale architectural languages of the United States—from Beaux-Arts classicism to early modern corporate monumentalism—and their profound influence on the built environment of North America and beyond. His research foregrounds the ideological, spatial, and technological frameworks that shaped these monumental expressions, tracing their evolution from the civic grandeur of early twentieth-century public works to the vast infrastructural complexes that defined mid-century urban modernity. Rafael’s analysis illuminates the complex dialogue between North American precedents and the development of Modern Brazilian architecture.
Organized by DOCOMOMO Brazil—the local chapter of a research network founded in 1992 to document and conserve the legacy of the Modern Movement—the annual seminar convenes professionals, academics, and advocates from across Brazil and around the world. Organized in association with and hosted by the UFRGS in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the event features thematic sessions, case studies, and debates that address the documentation, interpretation, and safeguarding of modern heritage. By situating Brazilian modernism within a broader hemispheric conversation, Duarte’s work invites new perspectives on influence, adaptation, and innovation, revealing how these cross-currents contributed to Brazil’s own modern monumental tradition.
