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As the seat of the federal government and capital of Brazil since April 21, 1960, modernist Brasilia is one of the youngest capital cities in the world. Indeed, the project for a new Brazilian capital was considered as early as 1891, when the first constitution of Brazil mandated the construction of a new city to replace Rio de Janeiro, then the seat of government. The reasons were strategic; by moving the capital away from the coast, the government functions would be protected in the case of an attack coming from the Atlantic. Furthermore, it was considered economically advantageous to spread out some of the country's wealth and resources by populating a more geographically central and neutral area, as Brasilia is located within its own district.
Planned in collaboration between Brazilian architects Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa, Brasilia is characterized by a very distinctive urban plan, where each neighbourhood has a unique function. Indeed, the seats of the different ministers as well as the public buildings — mostly designed by Niemeyer — are concentrated along Brasilia's arterial Monumental Axis, while the rest of the city's functions are separated and positioned within clearly defined sectors. As a result, the residential, bank, hotel, nightclub, and embassy districts do not interact with each other.
With its layout often compared to the shape of a flying bird when seen from above, Brasilia was recognized in 1987 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its modernist architecture and its uniquely artistic urban planning. Built on the banks of the artificial Paranoá Lake in a record-breaking 41 months, Brasilia has been able "to bring progress to the interior of Brazil," as stated by Niemeyer just before the construction of his Modernist masterpiece started. The city was also conceived as a symbol of Brazil's new identity as a developing super power, free from the architectural legacy of colonialism found in its older coastal metropolises, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.
While Brasilia was initially designed for a population of 500,000, more than 2.5 million Brasilienses now reside within the city's metropolitan area, spreading way beyond the original Costa-designed neighbourhoods. This dramatic growth has lead to various housing and traffic issues within and around Brasilia. As the central apartment complexes envisioned by Niemeyer to house people from all social backgrounds have become home to the wealthiest residents due to the high demand and limited supply, the poorest classes have been pushed outside the city limits, putting a strain on the architect's utopian dream. The distinct physical separation between neighbourhoods and uses in a city built for cars with a limited public transit network and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure has been cited as the reason for the city's heavy car traffic and lack of animation.
The impact felt by first-time visitors in front of the white concrete structures that seem to float above ample lawns and ponds remains strong. As Niemeyer once said, "I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art should cause the emotion of newness."
The pictures in this story were retrieved from the SkyriseCites.com Flickr photo pool. More images of Brasilia, and other great photos captured through the lens of Phil Marion are available on his personal Flickr page.
