Oscar Niemeyer designed Brasília’s major civic buildings, including the National Congress.
Niemeyer was the principal architect of Brasília’s monumental government district, while urban planner Lúcio Costa designed the city’s overall pilot plan. Brasília was inaugurated as Brazil’s capital in 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro. The new capital was built inland to encourage national development and symbolize a modern Brazil.
Niemeyer’s buildings are known for bold curves, dramatic structural forms, and extensive use of reinforced concrete. His Brasília works include the Palácio da Alvorada, the Planalto Palace, the Supreme Federal Court, the Cathedral of Brasília, and the National Congress complex with its twin towers and contrasting domes.
Niemeyer had previously collaborated with Le Corbusier on the United Nations headquarters in New York. Their work is related to modernist architecture, but Niemeyer developed a distinct sculptural language emphasizing curves. Brasília was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, recognized for its planned modernist urban design and architecture.