Brasília, a definitive example of 20th century modernist urbanism.
During a working visit to Brasília in November 2023, I took the opportunity to go out with my camera in the evenings and on weekends. What a fascinating city.
Brazil’s capital was designed and developed in 1956 by Lúcio Costa (urban planner), Oscar Niemeyer (architect), and Joaquim Cardozo (poet and engineer). In addition, Roberto Burle Marx, a landscape architect and avantgarde artist, designed the gardens of many of the most important buildings.
The city was created in a few years in the late 1950s, at the initiative of then-president Juscelino Kubitschek. Brasilia was to serve as the country’s new, neutral capital to replace Rio de Janeiro. A key goal was the economic development of Brazil’s hinterland.
The city’s design divides it into numbered blocks and sectors for specific activities, such as the hotel, banking and embassy sectors. Brasilia is a definitive example of 20th century modernist urbanism.
Along a wide, central boulevard, the “monumental axis” (Eixo Monumental) are all the government buildings. At right angles to this are two “wings” (the Asa Norte and Asa Sul). Along these, extremely regularly arranged, are large residential blocks (superquadras). A large number of monumental buildings (including the cathedral and congress) were designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Brasília is located on a plateau (1100 m) in the country’s Central-West region (State Goiás).
Brasilia’s inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List took place on December 7, 1987. The ICOMOS report pertinent to the inscription defended the protection of a modern, unique and singular city, built in the 20th century from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, to become not just the capital of a country but also a magnificent historical example
