The Associazione Archivio Cattaneo has been formed in 2000, promoting and organizing cultural initiatives about modern and contemporary architecture. The association curated the organization of some international exhibition, like "Cesare Cattaneo 1912 1943", Rotterdam, 1987, Museo Boymans; "Le prefigurazioni plastiche", Bergamo, 1990, Galleria La Diade; "L'Arte e l'Ideale", Como, 1988, Palazzo del Broletto; also, it actively collaborated to other important events on the architect Cesare Cattaneo in Milan, Venice Biennale, Rome, Centre Pompidou in Paris, Kassel, Reina Sophia Museum in Valencia, Tokyo, etc.
After 2001, the association has promoted numerous exhibition of Italian and international architects, mainly at its headquarters in Cernobbio,Villa del Grumello in Como, Palazzo Terragni in Lissone, Accademia di San Luca in Rome and other European and north American places.
Another area in which Archivio Cattaneo is involved is the organization of conferences about architectural themes, urban space and city, with debates held at the Biblioteca Civica of Como with international relators.
Three editorial series document the activity of Archivio Cattaneo: Quaderni di architettura, on Cesare Cattaneo works; Saggi and Cataloghi of the exhibitions organized by the association.