Research - Oscar Niemeyer (Updated)

Oscar Niemeyer  

In this post I will research about Oscar Niemeyer and his work which inspired me and related to my project. 

Oscar Neimeyer (1907-2012) - Brazilian architect, one of the greatest architects in global modernist movement. Neimeyer created more than 5000 buildings in different parts of the world: America, Africa and Europe. In 1936, he joined a Le Corbusier team, where Neimeyer designed the headquarters of Ministry of Education and Health, Rio de Janeiro. In 1956, ex-president invited Neimeyer to participate large urban project to construct new capital - Brasilia. For this project he constructed building for National Congress in 1960 (Baratto, 2018). In this post I was to speak more about this piece of work which inspired me for my future development.

National Congress (1960) - Neimeyer 

The architecture style of this project is Brazilian Modernism as many other Niemeyer projects, which is similar to style of my future project - Futurism. 

“ The most sober of the palaces on the Plaza of the Three Powers, the National Congress reflects the strong influence of Le Corbusier, while hinting at the more romantic and whimsical forms that characterize Niemeyer’s trademark Brazilian” (Douglass-Jaimes, 2015) 

The project is a combination of some brutalist element which characterises Le Corbusier works and more modern elements from Niemeyer. Similar in my future project will be mainly in modernistic style. My project, like the National Congress building, will mix in them elements of Brutalism, seen in Le Corbusier’s works, with more modern, fluid designs inspired by Niemeyer. This combination creates a unique look that like something strict, functional forms and more imaginative, forward-thinking architecture. In my upcoming project, I aim to capture this balance, focusing mainly on modernistic and futuristic styles while incorporating some Brutalist elements to add depth and character.

    

Reference list

Baratto, R. (2018). Spotlight: Oscar Niemeyer. [online] ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/577579/spotlight-oscar-niemeyer  [Accessed 7 May 2024].

Carlson , C. (2023). Opposite Office designs ‘dystopian’ wall to protect National Congress of Brazil after riots. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2023/01/13/opposite-office-dystopian-wall-national-congress-brazil-riots/ [Accessed 7 May 2024].

Douglass-Jaimes, D. (2015). AD Classics: National Congress / Oscar Niemeyer. [online] ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/773568/ad-classics-national-congress-oscar-niemeyer [Accessed 7 May 2024]

Wiles, W. (2023). ‘The architecture does matter in the storming of the National Congress’. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2023/01/26/architecture-storming-national-congress-brasilia-oscar-neimeyer-will-wiles-opinion/ [Accessed 7 May 2024].

Picture reference:

Niemeyer, O. (1960) National Congress [online]. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2023/01/26/architecture-storming-national-congress-brasilia-oscar-neimeyer-will-wiles-opinion/ [Accessed 7 May 2024].