Oscar Niemeyer
Brazil - 1907 - 2012
Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012) was one of the most influential architects in modern architectural history. He was responsible for the architectural planning of several buildings in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, and left a legacy of more than 600 projects worldwide. His works are easily recognizable for their innovative use of reinforced concrete and bold, sinuous forms.
Biography and Artistic Trajectory
Oscar Niemeyer was born on December 15, 1907, in the Laranjeiras neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. The son of a public servant, Niemeyer married Anita Baldo, the daughter of Italian immigrants, in 1928. In 1929, he enrolled at the National School of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro, where he graduated as an architect and engineer in 1934. He began his career as an intern at the office of Lúcio Costa and Carlos Leão. In 1936, he was invited to collaborate with renowned Swiss architect Le Corbusier on the design of the Ministry of Education in Rio de Janeiro.
Major Works and Contributions
In 1940, Niemeyer met Juscelino Kubitschek, then the mayor of Belo Horizonte, who invited him to design the Pampulha Architectural Complex, including the Casino, the Dance Hall, the Yacht Club, and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. This project was notable for its innovative forms and creative use of materials.
In 1947, Niemeyer was part of the International Architects Committee that designed the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Among his notable works are the Banco Nacional Imobiliário (BNI) building, the Edmundo Cavanelas House in Petrópolis, and the Luiz de Bessa State Public Library in Belo Horizonte.
In 1956, invited by President Juscelino Kubitschek, Niemeyer designed several buildings for the new capital, Brasília, including the Palácio da Alvorada, the Palácio do Planalto, the Itamaraty Palace, the National Congress, the Cathedral, the Praça dos Três Poderes, the Supreme Federal Court, and the National Theater. Brasília was inaugurated on April 21, 1960, becoming a landmark of modern architecture.
Exile and International Recognition
With the military coup of 1964, Niemeyer exiled himself to France. During his exile, he continued to design iconic buildings. He returned to Brazil in 1979 and designed important monuments, such as the Integrated Centers for Public Education (CIEPs) and the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. In 1988, he was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the field.
Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro, is the city with the highest number of Niemeyer's works after Brasília, notably the Museum of Contemporary Art, inaugurated in 1991. In 1996, he received the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennale. Other notable projects include the Ibirapuera Auditorium in São Paulo and the Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Curitiba, inaugurated in 1999.
Personal Life and Legacy
Oscar Niemeyer was married to Anita Baldo for 76 years until her death in 2004. In 2006, he married his secretary Vera Lúcia Cabreira. In 2007, his centenary was celebrated with the awarding of the Medal of Cultural Merit of Brazil.
Oscar Niemeyer passed away at the Samaritano Hospital in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, on December 5, 2012, leaving an immeasurable legacy for architecture and culture worldwide.
Sources:
Photo: https://www.escritoriodearte.com/artista/oscar-niemeyer