Oscar Niemeyer

Author: Joseph M. Botto
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Oscar Niemeyer's architecture embodies the harmony and symmetry between methods and techniques, gathering an extremely rich diversity of structures. Through architectural methods, his designs convey a spirit of existence and a mystical charm of exploring extraordinary changes. Additionally, for the aforementioned reasons, it can be said that Oscar Niemeyer imagined the themes of his design layouts in a rational manner. They are the result of great ideas, which have acquired their characteristic expressions, and their proposed plans exhibit a future prospect. His major works offer many inspirations, such as the private residences of the architect in Rio de Janeiro and Mendes; the Casa?o, Catholic Church, and Yacht Club in Pampulha, Belo Horizonte; the Copan Group in S?o Paulo; the Ministry of Education and Health Building in Rio de Janeiro; the Kubitschek Presidential Palace in Pampulha; and the National Congress, Catholic Cathedral, and Kubitschek Presidential Palace in Brasília, among others. The status of Oscar Niemeyer is indeed sometimes distorted by some critiques that originate from pure trends. However, these erroneous judgments have not weakened the fortune and strength of his magnificent architecture. The charm of his design ideas is actually consistent with the truth of the fundamental structures that his buildings radiate. It is precisely these truths, not the result of fortune, that directly stabilize bold attempts, which were completed in a new order by embodying all the radiant elements contained in a sophisticated building, to a great extent proving an extraordinary personality. This comprehensive monograph was compiled by Oscar Niemeyer himself and the renowned Catalan architect Joseph M. Botto. Joseph M. Botto is the nephew of one of the world's greatest sculptors and ceramists, Antony Cumella, and his portraits of this Brazilian master can be admired worldwide. Botto admirably organizes Niemeyer's works here—works that remain astonishing to this day.