The last part of our Brazilian day, commemorating the 104th birthday of the renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and the launch of ArchDaily Brasil: An exclusive interview with Mr Niemeyer himself.

- How did you start your office?

My office in Copacabana -the only one that I have- was opened and organized to meet, since the early 50s, the ever growing demands.The last 13 years I have been the only architect here “at work”; the initial stage of the projects is done by me, up to the basic project, and then I trust its development by other architecture offices, specially the ones directed by my colleague and friends Jair Valera and my dear granddaughter, Ana Elisa.

- For you, what is Architecture?

In my opinion, architecture is invention. And under this prism is how I do my projects, always searching for beautiful, expressive, different and surprising solutions.

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© ArchDaily by Megan Jett - Click to enlarge.

ArchDaily’s Megan Jett did this amazing infographic resuming the highlights of Oscar Niemeyer’s career, who turned 104 years old today.

We continue celebrating this special day, with the launch of ArchDaily Brasil!

You can download it in PDF, so you can print it and hang it in your wall.

Architecture is all about passion. Sometimes it can be very complex, slow, even painful… but our passion will make us push until the end, to see our creations come to reality no matter what.  This passion turns into an entrepreneurial spirit, collaboration and the desire to use our knowledge to influence our society and to improve our built environment. For me, one of the best living examples of the passionate architect is the Brazilian master Oscar Niemeyer.

Today the master turns 104 years old, and he is still working at his office in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, from where we interviewed him, delivering projects in Brazil and around the world. So passionate about his work, that he can’t stop.

Devoted to architecture and women, he was able to express his passion for both.

mountains/waves/women = curves

It is not the right angle that attracts me. Nor the straight line, tough, inflexible, created by man. What attracts me is the free, sensual curve. The curve I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuous course of its rivers, in the waves of the sea, in the clouds of the sky, in the body of the favorite woman. Of curves is made all the universe.

- Oscar Niemeyer

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Duosegno Visual Design, a project of architecture photos and videos, shared with us one of their videos for the Niemeyer Center designed by Oscar Niemeyer. In collaboration with the cultural center, they are shooting the interiors for the second part of the project.

© Iñigo Bujedo-Aguirre

The Niemeyer Center in Aviles, Spain is soon to be shut down for several months due to disagreement over its finances and irregularities in its spending. The cultural center opened a mere 8-months ago, designed by Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer and has been an admired and appreciated institution for the city.  More after the break. read more »

This week, with the help of our readers, our Architecture City Guide is headed to Berlin. The twentieth century changed nearly all cities, but perhaps none more so than Berlin. From its destruction in World War II that left few historic buildings intact to its division until 1989 that brought together the architecture of two competing ideologies into one city, Berlin’s modern and contemporary architecture speaks to a past that seldom accompanies such recent additions. The city is filled with new and wonderful architecture that might not have found space in other cities in Europe. With that in mind, we were unable feature all our readers’ suggestions on the first go around. We will be adding to the list in the near future, so please add more of your favorites in the comment section below. Once again, thanks to all our readers for your help.

The Architecture City Guide: Berlin list and corresponding map after the break.

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©Wikimedia Commons

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.

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Artist Edu Krieger and Oscar Niemeyer

ArchDaily would like to wish Oscar Niemeyer a Happy 103rd Birthday today.  In 1988, at age 81, Niemeyer was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, together with American architect Gordon Bunshaft. Setting the pace for us all, Niemeyer continues to practice architect from his office in Rio de Janeiro, with ongoing projects in Brazil and Spain.  He even recently composed the song Tranquilo com a Vida, download and listen here.

Tranquilo com a vida (composed by Oscar Niemeyer)

Richard Meier and Oscar Niemeyer met in October and here are some photos that Richard Meier & Partners shared with ArchDaily.  We will soon be featuring an interview with Richard Meier, so be sure to keep a look out.

Follow the break for Richard Meier and Oscar Niemeyer.

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© Patricia Parinejad

German-Persian photographer Patricia Parinejad will exhibit a selection of photographs at the Niteroi’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Rio de Janeiro composed in the context of a comprehensive photographic essay of Oscar Niemeyer’s buildings during the last five years.

Oscar Niemeyer is one of the most renowned architects of our time, whose remarkable lifework can be admired in different countries around the world. This exhibition “encontro “ (encounter) represents a very special occasion since it will actually be held in one of Niemeyer’s architectural masterpieces marking the celebration of his 103 rd anniversary.

The work is represented as Fine Art Prints with an water color structure which confers a special impression to the images. The exhibition will take place from December 12 to March 31, 2011.

Q created by Samantha Aquium, designed by Niemeyer

Check out this delicious design by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The edible curvaceous chocolate is part of Q – the recently launched company by Samantha Aquim, chef and head of the chocolate division at her family’s restaurant business. As chef, Aquim has developed a process to extract only the purest and richest flavors from the cocoa beans, and choosing Niemeyer’s design creates an instantly recognizable form for her work.   Perhaps, Niemeyer found inspiration in his Auditório Ibirapuera? Now, imagine if that were chocolate?

Compare the chocolate to the Audiotório after the break. read more »

Oscar Niemeyer turned 102 today… and as you can see he is still rocking.

You can see the second part of this interview on our previous article.

Ravello, off South Italy’s coast, is said to be one of the most beautiful spots on earth. And Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer’s all-white curvaceous auditorium is set amongst its luxuriant rocky hillsides and against the backdrop of the refined Amalfi coastal town’s trademark awe-inspiring brilliant blue sea and endless open skies.

Completion is due in September, ready to showcase the new auditorium’s unique feature: its over-hanging canopied roof (or solaio a sbalzo in Italian). More plainly put, this means that while the amenities are set off the entrance piazza or in the floors below, a section of the 1,500m2 canopy, which contains the actual auditorium space, literally and strikingly, hangs in the air supported by nothing.

Seen at Wallpaper. More images after the break (we searched all over the web for more images, if you can find some, please post the links!) read more »

Oscar Niemeyer is now 101 years old, and he keeps working every day at his office in Rio de Janeiro, with on going projects in Brazil and Spain. I think that his secret is how passionate he is about architecture and women, and he has devoted his life to both.

mountains/waves/women = curves

It is not the right angle that attracts me. nor the straight line, tough, inflexible, created by man. what attracts me is the free, sensual curve. the curve I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuous course of its rivers, in the waves of the sea, in the clouds of the sky, in the body of the favourite woman. Of curves is made all the universe.

You can read a short version of the intervier at Vice Magazine.