Exceptional setting (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
The Pampulha Modern Ensemble is located in Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais, Brazil, but once there you can feel transported to another world.
The Ensemble comprises bold forms that exploit the plastic potential of concrete, while fusing architecture, landscape design, sculpture and painting into a harmonious whole. It reflects the influence of local traditions, the Brazilian climate and natural surroundings on the principles of modern architecture.
Exceptional setting (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
When visiting the complex you can feel dazzled by its beauty. Its history and culture are present in each building that forms part of this architectural setting.
Pampulha Modern Ensemble (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
The story of these fantastic works involves a former president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, who was mayor of Belo Horizonte and commissioned structural projects by engineer Joaquim Cardozo, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
A cultural and leisure centre (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
Juscelino wanted to develop a known area around Pampulha. Therefore, he commissioned the design of a set of buildings from the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, the same person responsible for the construction project of Brasília, the current Capital of Brazil and World Heritage site.
Around the Pampulha artificial lake, a casino, a church, a ballroom, a club and a hotel were built. With the exception of the hotel, the complex was inaugurated with an opening that took place on May 16, 1943.
UNESCO inscription (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
On July 17, 2016, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble was inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee in Istanbul, Turkey.
A collective work (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
The set, when built, involved the modernist thinking of the time. In addition to Niemeyer's architecture, the buildings' gardens were designed by Burle Marx. The panels are by Cândido Portinari and the sculptures by Alfredo Ceschiatti, among other artists.
São Francisco de Assis Church (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
Among the buildings that make up the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, the São Francisco de Assis Church is considered the greatest masterpiece, which Oscar Niemeyer attributed to its bold, unusual and striking forms.
São Francisco de Assis Church (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
The structural design was by the engineer Joaquim Cardozo, who was considered by Niemeyer as "the most cultured Brazilian who ever existed".
Pampulha Art Museum (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
The Pampulha Art Museum was the first building in the set to be built. It began life as a casino, which operated until April 30, 1946.
The reason for the end date is related to the decision of the former president of Brazil, Gaspar Dutra, who at the time prohibited gambling across the national territory. Later, in 1957, it functioned as a Museum of Art.
Pampulha Art Museum (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
The Pampulha Art Museum has a collection of 1,600 works; among them exhibitions of Brazilian Contemporary Art which focus on various artistic trends. One of the highlights of the collection is the works of Guignard, as well as other pieces by several plastic artists such as Oswaldo Goeldi, Fayga Ostrower and Anna Letycia.
In addition, there are works by modernists such as Di Cavalcanti, Livio Abramo, Bruno Giorgi and Ceschiatti, as well as contemporaries Antonio Dias, Frans Krajcberg, Ado Malagoli, Iberê Camargo, Tomie Ohtake, Ivan Serpa, Milton Dacosta, Alfredo Volpi and Franz Weissmann, among others.
Casa de Baile (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
Casa de Baile (ballroom house) was inaugurated in 1943, but ended up deactivated in 1948, shortly after the casino was closed in 1946. Today the old ballroom house is located on an artificial islet, accessed by an eleven-metre bridge.
The Pampulha Modern Ensemble also contains the Yacht Tennis Club, the Kubitschek House which was designed in the 1940s to be Juscelino Kubitschek's weekend residence.
Lake Pampulha (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
All the monuments located around Lagoa da Pampulha (Pampulha Lake) have unique characteristics, as well as gardens, museums and cultural spaces.
Natural surroundings (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
As well as being spectacular, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble has an excellent infrastructure, where it is possible to walk from one monument to another and, at the same time, contemplate the natural beauty around it.
Tap to explore
Take a tour around the lake.
Lake Pampulha (2016) by Pampulha Modern EnsembleUNESCO World Heritage
Visiting the Pampulha Modern Ensemble is surreal, magical and carries an immeasurable cultural weight. In fact, this is an experience that the tourist will remember forever.
This exhibit was created by Embratur: www.embratur.gov.br
More on Pampulha Modern Ensemble and World Heritage: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1493/
Photos: Embratur
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