Brasilia, the Palace of Congress and their Urban Changes

Authors

  • Danilo Matoso Macedo
  • Elcio Gomes da Silva

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52200/43.A.4FXZMOEC

Keywords:

Modern Movement, Modern architecture, Modern housing

Abstract

The Palace of Congress in Brasilia, designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1958, played an effective role in defining its urban context. Lúcio Costa`s original competition sketches show one tower, with a domed horizontal building. Niemeyer conciliated the different levels of the frontal Esplanade and of the lower Plaza behind, rotating it, and placing two domes and two towers instead of one, representing the two legislative institutions housed. The building presence amidst a vast green area became the main symbol of Brasilia. In the last 50 years, however, its surroundings gave place to several new institutional buildings designed by Niemeyer himself.

How to Cite

Macedo, D. M., & Silva, E. G. da. (2010). Brasilia, the Palace of Congress and their Urban Changes. Docomomo Journal, (43), 60–65. https://doi.org/10.52200/43.A.4FXZMOEC

Published

2010-11-01

Issue

No. 43 (2010): Brasilia

Section

Essays

License

Copyright (c) 2010 Danilo Matoso Macedo, Elcio Gomes da Silva

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Plaudit

Author Biographies

Danilo Matoso Macedo

Architect and Urban Designer, graduated at Federal University of Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) in 1997. Master Degree from the same institution in 2002, Specialist in Public Policies and Government Management from National School of Public Administration in 2004. Professional in design practice since 1997, being awarded in many architectural competitions. He also works as an architect in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, in Brasília, since 2004. He is the author of a book on Oscar Niemeyer’s works in Minas Gerais, published in 2008. As an editor, he published a compilation of texts by the Brazilian engineer Joaquim Cardozo, and he publishes MDC Architectural Magazine . Danilo founded the docomomo Chapter Brasília in August 2007, which he directs up to date.

Elcio Gomes da Silva

Architect and Urban Designer graduated at University of Brasilia (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) in 1995, where he is currently a PhD student. Professional in design practice since 1996, he has participated in many architectural competitions. He also works as an architect in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, in Brasília, since 2002.

References

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Costa, Lucio. Memória descritiva do Plano Piloto – 1957. In: Registro de uma vivência. São Paulo; Brasília: Empresa das Artes; UnB, 1995. p.283–297

Costa, Maria Elisa; Lima, Adeildo Viegas de; Costa, Lucio. Brasília 57–85: do plano–piloto ao plano piloto. Brasília: GDF/SVO/ DAU; TERRACAP/DITEC, 1985. 145p.

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Silva, Elcio Gomes; Sánchez, José Manoel Morales. “Arquitetura dos anexos da Praça dos 3 Poderes: o caso do Congresso Nacional.” Porto Alegre: Docomomo Brasil, 2007. Available in: < http://www.docomomo.org.br >. Access in: nov.14, 2010