The late Lina Bo Bardi is a prolific architect, designer, editor, and curator. Even after her passing, her work continues to be an example for others to take note of. Her legacy reminds the industry that at the center of design is bringing communities together. Hashim Sarkis, 2021 curator of the 17th Biennale Architettura, stated, "it is her powerful buildings that stand out in their design and in the way that they bring architecture, nature, living, and community together. In her hands, architecture becomes truly a convening social art." 

Familiar with her impactful career spanning decades of iconic work, it was no surprise that the famed multi-talented architect had been awarded the Special Gold Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Sarkis, who recommended her for the award, shared, "if there is one architect who embodies most fittingly the theme of the Biennale Architettura 2021, it is Lina Bo Bardi. Her career as a designer, editor, curator, and activist reminds us of the role of the architect as a convener and importantly, as the builder of collective visions." 

"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." he continued. The highest honor given by the board La Biennale di Venezia Sarkis expressed that her recognition was long overdue. He praised her for "an illustrious career straddling between Italy and Brazil, for re-enlivening the role of the architect as an enabler of society, and for a woman who simply represents the architect at her best." 

Many are familiar with Bo Bardi's background as a distinguished Italian architect and her affiliation and work with Brazil as a naturalized citizen. Previously featured on Archinect, writer Nicholas Cecchi's piece, The motley life and uncertain legacy of Lina Bo Bardi articulated her growth and approach to architecture, specifically during her time in Brazil. He writes, "It was in Bahia that Bo Bardi truly connected with Brazilian culture and the privation and social inequality which would drive her architecture (and activism) through the remainder of her career." 

What makes Lina Bo Bardi a pioneer within architecture and design practice is her never-ending attention to the nuances of life and its relationship to architecture, its environment, and its people. 

A life recorded and represented through her built work, writing, and exhibitions I'm called to pull reference from Noemí Blager's responses to Cecchi within his piece. With her work as curator of the Lina Bo Bardi: Together, an installation held at the Graham Foundation in 2015 Blager stated, "[Bo Bardi's] buildings are totally timeless because what matters is not the container, but the content. To her, architecture was program...Her architecture completes when it is inhabited."

From her work with Domus and A-Attualità, Architettura, Abitazione, Arte Glass House, the São Paulo Museum, to exhibitions such as "The House as Soul," "The Dignity of Architecture," and "The Hand of the Brazilian People," Bo Bardi understood the importance of using architecture to bring people together. In response to her Lifetime Achievement award, the Instituto Bardi from São Paulo shared its gratitude. 

With a heartfelt thank you, it's this portion of their response featured below that highlights Bo Bardi's legacy not only as an architect but as a woman pursuing change through social impact and activism. 

Excerpt from Instituto Bardi courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia press release.

"We thank La Biennale di Venezia for its vision in recognizing today a generous and multi-talented woman who has touched so many and will continue to inspire for many generations to come. The phenomenal life and work of Lina Bo Bardi has long addressed the central question of this year’s International Architecture Exhibition: How will we live together?

We hope that the 2021 edition of La Biennale – rather than inflate her popularity as an architectural icon - will help to even better contextualize and communicate the depth of Lina Bo Bardi’s critical view of the world: always caring for the least culturally represented, consistently aware of the importance of diversity in art and architecture, and committed to a multidisciplinary approach to architecture bringing together people from all walks of life."

Lina Bo Bardi's acknowledgment will be celebrated on March 22, 2021 during the inauguration ceremony for the Biennale Architettura 2021. To learn more about the event click here.