Brasilia

Photo : Photo by Cayambe (CC BY-SA 3.0 lu)

This modernist city in central Brazil represents a unique experiment in urban planning and architecture from the late 20th century. Designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and urban planner Lúcio Costa, Brasília was purpose-built as the nation's capital and inaugurated in 1960. The city exemplifies the principles of modernist design through its innovative layout, monumental public buildings, and integration of landscape and architecture. Located on the Brazilian plateau, Brasília features distinctive curved structures, large-scale governmental complexes, and carefully planned residential and commercial zones. The site demonstrates a bold vision of urban development that departed significantly from traditional city planning conventions. Its architectural and urban design achievements reflect an important moment in twentieth-century modernism and represent a notable attempt to create a purpose-built administrative capital.