Oscar Niemeyer, the hugely influential Brazilian architect whose impact on modern architecture can be seen across the world, has died at the age of 104. (Featured image is by SurfAst)
Niemeyer had been battling stomach and kidney infections since November, and yesterday a hospital in Rio de Janeiro confirmed the he died as a result of a lung infection.
In a career that spanned a staggering nine decades, Niemeyer’s inventive, forward-thinking designs came to define parts of Brazil and shape the way modern architecture developed.
Best known for his work in the modern city of Brasilia, Niemeyer’s influence can be seen in cities across the globe.
Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian President, praised Niemeyer by calling him “a revolutionary, the mentor of a new architecture, beautiful, logical, and, as he himself defined it, inventive”.
Niemeyer shunned the boxed style of many 20th Century architects, preferring instead to use curves, crescents and spirals to create unique buildings, many of which still look futuristic to this day.
As the world remembers the enduring talent of Oscar Niemeyer, we take a look back at some of his most memorable and inspirational work.
National Congress of Brazil
As with nearly all the government buildings in the modern Brazilian capital of Brasilia, the new National Congress of Brazil was designed by Niemeyer in the 1950s.
Incorporating two semi-spheres, one sitting face-up and one sitting face-down, and two vertical office blocks, the National Congress is home to the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Cathedral of Brasilia
A building that is quintessentially Niemeyer, the Cathedral of Brasilia has all the attributes you’d expect from one of his designs.
Using 16 curved concrete columns, separated by dazzling stained glass, the Cathedral seems to open up to heaven to give it a very special feel.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
A building that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern-day sci-fi movie, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum is a stunning piece of architecture in the city of Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro.
Designed by Niemeyer, with the assistance of structural engineer Bruno Contarini, in the 1990s, the museum sits on top of a cliff edge overlooking Guanabara Bay.
Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre
Niemeyer’s first work in Spain, the cultural centre was described by the architect as his most in important in Europe.
The cultural centre, otherwise known as Centro Niemeyer, is located on the estuary of Aviles and is the result of a long relationship between Niemeyer and the Asturias principality.
The architect was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Art in 1989, and donated this project to the principality on the award’s 25th anniversary.
Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer Ravello
Designed by Niemeyer in 2000, this auditorium in Ravello, Italy, didn’t open until 2010 – the result of disputes over its design and positioning.
One of the last of his buildings to open, the auditorium showed that, right up until his twilight years, Niemeyer was a unique and brilliant architect, and undoubtedly one of the best of the 20th Century.
