CASVA purchases documents relating to architecture, design, graphic design and the figurative arts in the form of the professional and personal archives of architects, designers, graphic designers and artists. The institute favours professionals whose work has been significant in the context of Milan and Lombardy, particularly during the 20th century.

Currently the holdings are made up of the professional archives of the following 10 architects:

• Luciano Baldessari
• Mario Terzaghi e Augusto Magnaghi
• Francesco Gnecchi-Ruscone
• Roberto Sambonet
• Fiorenzo Ramponi
• Andrea Disertori
• Fredi Drugman
• Virgilio Vercelloni
• Jonathan De Pas, Donato D’Urbino, Paolo Lomazzi
• Vittorio Gregotti.

The archive holdings are increased either through direct purchase, donation or, more rarely, loans.

CASVA uses modern conservative techniques to preserve its holdings in the best possible state, relative to the state the documents were in at the time of acquisition, for future generations.