Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1907, Oscar Niemeyer is one of the greatest architects the country has ever produced. His designs with curvilinear forms ushered in a new aesthetic standard in Brazil, spread across the world, and turned him into a foremost symbol of modern architecture.
Niemeyer began studying architecture at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes (ENBA) in 1929. There, he met Lúcio Costa - the school's director starting in 1931 - with whom he went to work after graduating in 1934.
National School of Fine Arts - Marc Ferrez, 1910. Source: Instituto Moreira Salles
Image description: This is a historical photograph of a monumental building. The image shows a large structure with classical architecture, characterized by columns, arches, and ornamental details. On the left side, there is a tower with balconies and decorative windows. In the center, the main building has two large, symmetrical domes. In front, there is a square with people walking and an ox cart. The sky is clear, and the image is in black and white.At Lúcio Costa's office, Niemeyer joined the team that designed the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Health - the Gustavo Capanema Building - between 1937 and 1945, under the supervision of Swiss architect Le Corbusier. The building was a landmark for modern Brazilian architecture and was fundamental in shaping Niemeyer's architectural identity, as he thought of his buildings as sculptures.
In 1937, he designed the Obra do Berço (Lagoa - Rio de Janeiro), his 1st built project, introducing in Brazil the use of the brise-soleil (sun-breaker). In 1938, he traveled to New York, where he took part in designing the Brazilian pavilion at the World's Fair.
Facade of Obra do Berço - Luca Bullaro, 2012. Source: Archdaily
Image description: The image is a photograph of a modern building with a white and blue facade. On the left side, there is a tree with green leaves. The building's facade has horizontal and vertical lines that create a geometric pattern. In the upper right, there is a balcony with metal railings. In the center of the facade, there is a sign with the text "O BRA DO BERCO" in blue letters. The sky is clear and blue.Between 1940 and 1944, at the invitation of the then mayor of Belo Horizonte - Juscelino Kubitschek -, he carried out one of his most important projects, the Pampulha Architectural Complex, another great landmark of modern architecture. In 1956, now as president, JK invited Niemeyer to design the public buildings of the new capital, Brasília, whose urban plan was by Lúcio Costa.
Niemeyer was also attentive to social issues and had been a member of the Communist Party since 1945. In 1955, he founded Revista Módulo, featuring architecture and art content, but his political stance led to persecution by the military regime, and the magazine was banned in 1964. The persecution continued until Niemeyer went into exile in Paris (1967), where he opened an architecture office.
Returning to Rio, governor Leonel Brizola (1983-87) chose Niemeyer to design the Sambódromo (1982) and the famous "Brizolões," the CIEPs (1983).
Oscar Niemeyer and Leonel Brizola examine the model of the Sambódromo - photo by Alberto Jacob. Source: Jornal Extra
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a group of people gathered around a table. In the front of the image, two men are interacting with a model of buildings. On the left, a man is leaning on the table, while on the right, another is bent over the model, apparently explaining something. In the background, other individuals watch the scene attentively. The spatial arrangement suggests a meeting or presentation, possibly related to the architectural project of the model.With important works spread across various parts of the country, Niemeyer never stopped working. He died in Rio, just days before turning 105, in December 2012.
