Oscar Niemeyer was one of the most important architects of the 20th century. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern architecture and one of the main representatives of Brazilian modernism. His works are characterized by their organic forms, bold curves and social vision. He has designed more than 600 buildings in different countries, including some of Brazil’s most iconic structures, such as the Brasília Cathedral, the National Congress Building and the São Paulo Cultural Center.
Niemeyer was born in Rio de Janeiro on December 15, 1907. He studied architecture at the National School of Fine Arts in Rio, graduating in 1934. He first worked as an assistant to Lúcio Costa, a renowned architect and urban planner who would later design the master plan for Brasília. Niemeyer met the famous Swiss architect Le Corbusier through Costa, who had a great influence on his development. Niemeyer admired Le Corbusier’s ideas of functionalism, rationalism and social commitment, but he also wanted to express his own creative freedom.
His first major commission was the design of the Pampulha complex in Belo Horizonte in 1940, a project that included a church, casino, dance hall, restaurant, and yacht club on the shore of an artificial lake. Niemeyer experimented here with new forms and materials, such as concrete, glass and ceramics. He created buildings that blended harmoniously with the landscape while having a futuristic aesthetic. The church of Pampulha was particularly innovative, as it had an undulating facade and a cantilevered dome. This work earned him international recognition and the reputation of a revolutionary architect.
Niemeyer soon became one of Brazil’s leading architects, working on various projects in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and other cities. He was a close friend of President Juscelino Kubitschek, who commissioned him to design the capital Brasília in 1956. This was a huge challenge, as it was a completely new city to be built on an empty plateau in the center of the country. Niemeyer collaborated with Lúcio Costa, who designed the urban plan, while he was responsible for the architectural designs.
Brasília was inaugurated in 1960 and is considered one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the 20th century. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and remains the capital of Brazil today. Niemeyer received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Pritzker Prize in 1988, the highest award for architecture.
Niemeyer never stopped working and experimenting. He designed buildings in different parts of the world. He was also interested in other artistic disciplines and wrote books, poems and essays on architecture and politics. He was a passionate advocate of social justice and peace in the world.
Niemeyer died in Rio de Janeiro on December 5, 2012, at the age of 104. He left a rich and diverse legacy of architectural works that reflect his genius and humanist vision. He will be remembered as one of the greatest architects of all time.