In Niemeyer and Costa Masks, Architects Protest the City of Brasilia
Wearing masks with the faces of Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa, architects and urban planners swarmed the 50th Annual IAB (Institute of Architects of Brazil) Awards in Rio de Janeiro this week. The architects were protesting a contract the city government of Brasilia struck with a Singaporean firm to create an urban masterplan outlining the next 50 years of Brasilia’s future.
Legislative Chamber of the Federal Distric / Projeto Paulista Arquitetura
Architects: Projeto Paulista Arquitetura
Built Project Coordinator: Luis Mauro Freire
Design Team: Luis Mauro Freire, Maria do Carmo Vilariño, Fábio Mariz Gonçalves, Zeuler Rocha Melo de Almeida Lima, Eurico Ramos Francisco e Lívia Leite França
Project Area: 48,277 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Nelson Kon
Multipurpose Complex Proposal / FGMF Arquitetos
Intending to create a new architectural reference for the region of Brasilia, the Multipurpose Complex becomes a new destination in the city. Designed by FGMF Arquitetos, the building creates a landmark in the landscape through the uses of retail, office buildings, and modular offices. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Brasilia Government Forges Controversial Contract with Singapore
While known as the extraordinary city which Niemeyer built, Brasilia is not without its problems. As a recent BBC article noted, while Niemeyer’s architecture is certainly appreciated by its residents, the city itself (designed for the car) lacks a human-scale, mixed neighborhoods, and the vibrant street life which so defines Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. The city is in need of a face-lift, but who should be responsible for Brasilia’s new face?
Well, if the debates and arguments at the XXIV Pan American Congress of Architects (XXIV CPA), which took place this November, are anything to go by, it certainly should not be those who have just been given the job.
Brasilia’s Government has contracted consulting company Jurong, based in Singapore, with designing a new Masterplan known as “Brasilia Plan 2060.” The move, which was taken with no outside participation or input, was criticized (loudly) – not only by Brazilian architects and urban planners, but by the majority of American and European professionals present at the XXIV CPA.
More details on this controversial move, after the break…
The Construction of Brasilia, Photos by Marcel Gautherot
The construction of Brasilia, the federal capital of Brazil and an icon of Brazilian Modernism, began in 1956. Initially planned by the urbanist Lúcio Costa for 500,000 inhabitants (today it holds 2.5 million), Brasilia gained fame for its remarkable buildings, designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Today, Brasilia is the only 20th century city in the world to have been awarded the status of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
In honor of the late Oscar Niemeyer, we’ve gathered some stunning black and white photos taken by Franco-Brazilian photographer Marcel Gautherot during the construction of Niemeyer’s emblematic buildings – including the Palácio do Planalto, Palácio de Alvorada (official residence of the President of Brazil), the Cathedral of Brasilia and the National Congress of Brazil. See them all, after the break…
JPGN House / Macedo, Gomes & Sobreira
Architects: Macedo, Gomes & Sobreira
Location: Brasília, Brazil
Architect In Charge: Danilo Matoso Macedo
Collaborators: Angela Nemer, Simone Fonseca, Viviane Berlim
Structure: Marcello Usai
Lot Area: 800 sqm
Area: 355 sqm
Year: 2007
Photographs: Joana França
Congresso Nacional dos Municípios (CNM) Headquarters Winning Proposal / Luis Eduardo Loyola and Maria Cristina Motta
The primary condition for the first prize winning design of the new headquarters of Congresso Nacional dos Municípios (CNM) is the creation of a metropolitan area in line with the urban context of the city of Brasilia. Designed by Luis Eduardo Loyola and Maria Cristina Motta, the project is embodied along an axis in the form of a white metallic volume floating gently on a concrete basement. The transparency of the volume creates a special relation with their surroundings. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Loft Bauhaus / Ana Paula Barros
Architects: Ana Paula Barros
Location: Brasília, DF, Brasil
Design Team: Rafael Papi, Beatriz San Salvador
Project Area: 160 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Edgard Cézar
Alphaville Brasilia Club House / DOMO Arquitetos
Architects: DOMO Arquitetos
Location: Brasília, DF, Brasil
Design Team: Henrique Coutinho, Daniel Mangabeira, Matheus Seco (authors), Débora Valença, Rodrigo Scheel, Daniella Rauber (co-authors)
Collaborators: Guilherme Mahana, Tatiana Lopes
Completion: 2011
Built Area: 1,214 sqm (building) + 9,420 sqm (sports facilities, swimming pools and parking)
Photographs: Haruo Mikami
House 8 / Atria Arquitetos
Architects: Atria Arquitetos
Location: Brasília, DF, Brazil
Total Area: 420 sqm
Client: Private
Project Year: 2010
Project Team: Gustavo Costa + Gabriela Müller, Ana Carolina Caetano, Daniel Nardelli
Photographs: Edgar Cézar
House 13 / Atria Arquitetos
Architects: Atria Arquitetos
Location: Brasília, DF, Brazil
Total Area: 650 sqm
Client: Private
Project Team: Gustavo Costa + Gabriela Müller, Ana Carolina Caetano, Alice Leite Flores, Daniel Nardelli, Larissa Olivier Sudbrack
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Edgar Cézar
SIA Multi-Use Office Complex / FGMF Arquitectos
The multi-use office complex proposed by FGMF (Forte, Gimenes & Marcondes Ferras) Arquitectos for this 32.000m² lot aims at creating not only a new architectural reference for the region, but also a new destination for the city. Adding three different uses – retail, office buildings and modular offices – the new complex creates a landmark in the landscape, values the surroundings, and establishes a new shopping destination. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Welcome Center / Rocco, Vidal + arquitetos
Architects: Rocco, Vidal + arquitetos
Location: Brasilia, Brazil
Project area: 744 sqm
Landscape design: Renata Tilli Paisagismo
Lighting design: Foco
Structure: Domo Engenharia, FCK Engenharia
Plumbing/ Eletric: LR engenharia
HVAC: Super Ar Condicionado
Photographs: Courtesy of Rocco, Vidal + arquitetos
Sebrae Headquarters / Gruposp
Architects: Gruposp - Alvaro Puntoni, Luciano Margotto, João Sodré, Jonathan Davies
Location: Brasilia, Brazil
Client: SEBRAE Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service
Project area: 25,000 sqm
Project year: 2008 – 2010
Photographs: Nelson Kon
CONFEA New Headquarters / PPMS Arquitetos Associados
Architects: PPMS Arquitetos Associados
Location: Brasilia, Brazil
Project area: 10,460 sqm
Project year: 2007 – 2010
Photographs: Leonardo Finotti / Cláudio França
AD Classics: Cathedral of Brasilia / Oscar Niemeyer
Having such a significant history, it can be expected that the architecture of Brasilia reflects the richness and prominence of the culture as a planned city. The church bears much importance in the society, so the design had to have significance and personality against its surroundings. Oscar Niemeyer was sure to make a statement with the powerful expression and unique form of the Cathedral of Brasilia, which led to his acceptance of the Pritzker Prize in 1988.
More on Oscar Niemeyer and the Cathedral of Brasilisa after the break.
