BRASILIA – AXIS AND MONUMENTAL MODERNISM

DESCRIPTION – Brasilia: Axis and Monumental Modernism

Brasilia is known all over the word for having applied the principles established by the Athens Charter of 1933. Its construction began in 1956, with the urban planner Lucio Costa and the main architect Oscar Niemeyer. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. It’s the only city built in the twentieth century which has received this honor.

With a guide-architect from Artchitectours, you will be able to enjoy this magnificent city, so representative for Brazilian’s Architecture and Urbanism.

This tour will be focused on its main avenue: the Monumental Axis. It concentrates most of its main Modernists buildings: the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasília is a remarkable architectural ensemble that represents the epitome of modernist design. Designed by renowned architect Lúcio Costa, this urban space serves as the administrative hub of the city and showcases the harmonious fusion of form and function. The Esplanade is characterized by its expansive open space, punctuated by several iconic government buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer that display a distinct use of concrete and geometric shapes.

We’ll see Congresso Nacional (Oscar Niemeyer), Praça dos Três Poderes, a square whose name comes from the meeting of the three governmental powers around it. It was designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer with structural projects by Joaquim Cardozo.

Continuing our tour we’ll encounter Palácio do Itamaraty (Oscar Niemeyer). With arches reflected in a mirror of water with islands of tropical plants, the headquarters of the Foreign Office has the appearance of a palace built of glass.

Oscar Niemeyer also designed the Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília (Brasilia Cathedral). A national competition was called for a work of such dimensions. Niemeyer sought a compact and clean form, a volume capable of emerging with the same purity from any perspective and at the same time, of profound religious expression.

Designed at the intersection point between the Bus Station (North-South) and Monumental (East-West) axes, Rodoviária do Plano Piloto (Lúcio Costa) was idealized as the urban center of Brasília. Currently, it is the main urban bus terminal of the Federal District, receiving about 700 thousand passengers per day.

Museu Nacional (National Museum of Brasilia) by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa. The minimalist expression of the building, with a perfect semi-sphere shape and a prominent ramp, gives a surreal character to the work located on the esplanade of the Ministries.

Discover in Brasilia this guided tour with a professional architect who will join us throughout all the itinerary. You will discover the modern architecture from the city.

“…who goes to Brasilia may like its palaces or not, but cannot say that have seen something like this before. And architecture is this – invention.” Oscar Niemeyer.

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