To promote Peruvian modern architecture internationally, the exhibition of the “Modern Movement Architecture Catalog of Peru (CAMMP)” opened on March 31 at the headquarters of the Official Association of Architects of Madrid (COAM) in Spain. The research, conducted by architects Alejandra Acevedo and Michelle Llona, was supported by the Architecture Program at the University of Lima and the Scientific Research Institute (IDIC), and will be open to the public until April 30 of this year.
The CAMMP research, conducted between 2013 and 2015, presents an inventory of the most representative modern architectural works built and designed between 1945 and 1965 in Peru. This catalog opens a dialogue on the preservation and conservation of Peruvian Modern Movement architecture. Co-author and architect Alejandra Acevedo comments, "To protect modern buildings as heritage, they must first be made known," adding, "that is where the research began; we wanted it to be open to the public, to raise awareness, and to encourage their designation." Therefore, the project aims to revalue Peru's Modern Movement architecture among the scientific community, professionals, and authorities, while working alongside Peru's Ministry of Culture to promote the recognition of the period's most representative buildings as Built Historical Heritage 1945-1965.
The exhibition of the Modern Movement Architecture Catalog of Peru (CAMMP) at the COAM represents a significant opportunity to showcase Peruvian modern architecture on an international stage. Co-author Alejandra Acevedo notes: "Although Peru does not have a vast production of modern buildings, we have outstanding examples. These are the buildings that endure to this day; ministries, housing complexes, hospitals, civic centers, major school units, airports, and racetracks were built, with a special focus on social housing."
The exhibition was designed to showcase a broad selection of iconic buildings representative of modern Peruvian architecture. Accordingly, the exhibition is organized into four areas that guide visitors, fostering a deeper understanding of the presented material. The first area, located at the entrance, displays the general distribution of the 87% of the buildings situated in the capital city of Lima. The map, divided into sectors, plots the locations of 337 modern buildings. From this map, the eight sectors with the highest concentration of architectural work were selected for display in cases featuring 3D-printed scale models of 41 buildings, including the Ministry of Education, Unidad Vecinal N°3, the Ministry of Finance, Cine Tauro, the Civic and Commercial Center of Lima, and the National Stadium.
Also featured is a timeline of the most representative years (1945–1965), which chronologically details the country's most prominent modern movement architects and projects. It also outlines the national historical context alongside the international history of architecture and the Modern Movement.
The second zone, located in the central area, displays the buildings of each period on panels. This section showcases the core of the exhibition, featuring five displays with descriptive files for 112 buildings grouped by five-year intervals. Each file includes historical photographs, period descriptions, conservation status, and architectural drawings. The third zone culminates in five L-shaped panels featuring exploded isometric drawings of representative buildings from each five-year period, along with audiovisual material. The featured structures are the Ferrand Building, the Ministry of Education, Cine Tauro, the Seguros La Nacional Building, and the Petroperú Building. The final space in the exhibition features tables displaying period publications and freehand perspective drawings of several landmark buildings. Lastly, a souvenir table offers postcards, stickers, and an exhibition guide.
Two videos are presented as part of the exhibition's audiovisual material. The first explains the operation of the web catalog and its mobile application. The second video features a compilation of archival footage showing the construction, inauguration, or promotion of public buildings, such as the Miraflores Baths or major housing developments like Unidad Vecinal N°3.
The exhibition was designed by Alejandra Acevedo alongside University of Lima architecture graduates Jaione Aramburú and Martha Pomasonco, with the collaboration of students and alumni Megumi Uehara, Karina Mendoza, and Renato Vásquez.
This article was written by Vania Masalías. The translation is powered by AI.
