Brasilia, Brazil (2010-04-16) by NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science TeamNASA
The capital of Brazil, and the country’s third-most populous city, Brasilia was built from scratch in the second half of the 20th century.
The brainchild of Lúcio Costa, Oscar Niemeyer and Joaquim Cardozo, the city was founded in 1960 and is one of the world’s most contemporary and thoughtfully planned metropolises. In fact, its unique modernist architecture and artistic layout led to the city being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Catedral by Bento VianaInstituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil - Departamento Distrito Federal
The Cathedral of Brasilia
At the heart of the city is the cathedral. Designed by legendary Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, it was completed in 1970 and serves as the archdiocese of Brasilia. The building’s striking hyperboloid shape, and location in the center of the city, quickly made it one of the most popular attractions in the capital.
Cathedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, or Cathedral of Brasilia, under construction, Brasília, DF. Brazil (circa 1960) by Gautherot, Marcel Instituto Moreira Salles
A huge departure from previous religious architecture in South America, it was designed to offer visitors a unique experience. Those entering the cathedral must pass through a dark tunnel before emerging in the light-filled space with its high ceiling, huge windows and curved walls.
Cathedral of Brasilia
Designing a contemporary cathedral
Brasilia was intended to be a modern capital that would help catapult Brazil into the future. It was therefore essential that the city’s cathedral reflected this contemporary aesthetic while also serving as a practical place for worship. Niemeyer chose the cathedral’s dramatic shape for a number of reasons. One was that he wanted a building that had the same ‘purity’ from any perspective.
When standing inside the cathedral, the circular shape of the floor and sweeping curve of the walls give the building huge physical presence, making it the perfect place for large numbers of people to come together.
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Building a cathedral of the future
The construction of Brasilia Cathedral took just two years. The main part of the building is made up of 16 hyperbolic concrete columns, each of which weighs in at 99 tons. On top of these columns sits a vast stained-glass ceiling. The triangular glazed panels are shaped to fit between the concrete columns, with each measuring 30m from top to bottom and 10m across the base.
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The building can hold up to 4,000 people and has been at the heart of city life since it first opened its doors in 1960. Today, it’s one of Brasilia’s most prominent attractions. An emblem of the city, it hosts regular events and welcomes over one million visitors every year.
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Since it was built, Brasilia Cathedral has inspired numerous projects around the world, most notably, the construction of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral which was completed in 1967.
Vitrais da Catedral Metropolitana by Bento VianaInstituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil - Departamento Distrito Federal
Learn more about the design and construction of Brasilia here.
