OSCAR NIEMEYER

(December 15, 1907 – December 5, 2012)

"It was the drawing that led me to architecture, the search for light and astonishing forms."

The legendary architect's success undoubtedly resides in his attachment to the history of Brazil, its modernization.

"His career coincided with the modernization of Brazil. He was a genius at a time when architecture wanted to reinvent itself radically," says Frederick Fleurette, professor of architecture at the University of Brasilia (UNB).

He leaves a work of astonishing plastic force and expression, a visionary disproportion, a reference to the history of Brazil and architecture, helping give the country a modern visual voice from the 1940s onwards.

As an architect, he has been always faithful to the concrete curves that gave him his international fame.

Oscar Niemeyer was born on December 15, 1907, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He landed his first major project in 1941, planning buildings for the Pampulha Architectural Complex. His designs were noted for their free-flowing forms. Other projects included working on the United Nations building and designing the Contemporary Art Museum in Niterói and major buildings in the capital city of Brasília.

The first Brazilian to win the Pritzker is died at 104 on December 5, 2012.


All the images ©


National Congress, Brasilia (1957-1964) © The Gardian Christopher Beanland



Latin American Memorial and Parliament in São Paolo (1989) © The Gardian Christopher Beanland



Niterói Contemporary Art Museum — MAC, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro (1996) © The Gardian Christopher Beanland



Brasília © Folhapress



Catedral de Brasília © AP



National Congress of Brazil building © Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil © Yann Arthus Bertrand



Ibirapuera Auditorium (2002-5), Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo © The Gardian Christopher Beanland



Pedestrian bridge © Oscar Niemeyer, Favela da Rocinha, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil © Yann Arthus Bertrand



Palácio do Planalto © José Cruz/ABr



Palácio Gustavo Capanema, Rio de Janeiro © Paula Giolito/Folhapress



Praça da Liberdade, Belo Horizonte © Leo Drumond/Nitro/VEJA



Casa das Canoas © flickr Ana María León



1997 - Oscar Niemeyer in front of the Musée d'art contemporain, à Rio de Janeiro © Camilla Maia / JB / SEE



2005 - Oscar Niemeyer lorsune interview dans son bureau à Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro © Wilton Jr./AE/VEJA



To see more projects: VEJA, POP ART l
To learn more about Oscar Niemeyer: architect.architecture

2016.12.
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