Oscar Niemeyer

Oscar Niemeyer Soares Filho (born December 15, 1907) is a Brazilian architect who is considered one of the most important names in international modern architecture. He was a pioneer in the exploration of the constructive possibilities of reinforced concrete.

The 1940s and 1950s

In 1947, his world-wide recognition was confirmed when Niemeyer traveled to the United States to design the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. In the previous year he had received an invitation to teach at Yale University; however, his visa was denied because of his socialist beliefs. In 1950 the first book about his work was published in the USA by Stamo Papadaki.

Related Topics:
1947 - United States - Headquarters - United Nations - New York - Yale University - Stamo Papadaki

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In Brazil, he designed São Paulo's Ibirapuera Park (for the celebrations of the city's 400th anniversary) and in 1951 the Apartment Building], and the JK Building in Belo Horizonte . In 1952 he built his own house in Rio De Janeiro, the House at Canoas (casa das canoas), and in 1954 the Niemeyer luxury apartment building, in Belo Horizonte.

Related Topics:
São Paulo - Ibirapuera Park - 1951

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In 1954 he was called to design the Museum of Modern Art of Caracas (MAM Caracas). It was the first work where Niemeyer worked in order to create a symbol: architecture as a symbol. This kind of strategy was used later in Brasilia's projects. The building never was constructed but the drawings and the pictures of the model let us see Niemeyer's future style.

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Then Juscelino Kubitschek, elected president of Brazil in 1956, once again came in contact with Niemeyer. This time his plans were far more ambitious: he put Niemeyer in the head of Novacap, a project to move the national capital to a depopulated region in the center of the country.

Related Topics:
President of Brazil - 1956

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