"I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. I am attracted to free-flowing, sensual curves. The curves that I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean, and on the body of the beloved woman. Curves make up the entire Universe, the curved Universe of Einstein." - Oscar Niemeyer, 2000, The Curves of Time: The Memoirs of Oscar Niemeyer
We are sad to announce that one of history's most talented, dedicated, inspirational, and passionate architects has passed away at the age of 104 years, 10 days before his 105th birthday. Oscar Niemeyer has been in and out of the hospital a number of times this year due to complications related to various health issues, while never letting his focus deviate from his life's work.
Some photos of Oscar Niemeyer, and his work, throughout the years...
Ministries Esplanade with several of Niemeyer's buildings: the National Congress, the Cathedral, the National Museum and the National Library, Brasilia, D.F., 2006, Brasília
Congresso Nacional do Brasil (National Congress of Brazil), Brasília
Palácio da Alvorada (President's Residence), Brasília, inaugurated 1958
Palácio da Alvorada, Brasília, The State Room
Palácio do Planalto (President's Office), Brasília, inaugurated 1960
Cathedral of Brasília, Brasília, dedicated 1970
Cathedral of Brasília, Brasília, interior
Supremo Tribunal Federal (Supreme Federal Court), Brasília
Brazilian National Museum, Brasília, inaugurated at the opening of Brasília in 1960
Cultural Complex of the Republic, Brasília, exterior ramp (Photo: Agência Brasil)
The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Rio de Janeiro, completed in 1996
Oscar Niemeyer Museum (NovoMuseu), Curitiba, Brazil
Casino in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, Avilés, Asturias, Spain; opened in spring 2011, forced to close due to budget cuts on December 15 of the same year
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13 Comments
While certainly a sad event, one could not hope to live a more full life or achieve as much as Mr. Neimeyer did in a short hundred year span. A true genius.
Very true aphorismal! While it's always sad to see a legend pass, the world was lucky to have him for 104 years. An amazing life, filled with amazing, creative contributions.
People are always pissing about Architects.....well Oscar is a National Hero in Brazil, even with his passing. Enough said he is a man loved by his Nation, which there is no greater honor.
What a great career he had. 104 years strong. Goodbye Oscar
An inspiratrion to me when I was a young architect. All I can say is Thank you Oscar
Barry NewDelman
"Things are difficult. You get older and find yourself saying goodbye to people. Life doesn't make a lot of sense. But it's more meaningful if the will to be useful and to help your neighbor predominates. Human beings have to be realistic. We live, die and see others die – at the very least there should exist a spirit of solidarity."
An irreplaceable force in the profession and his homeland. He will be missed.
He survived long enough for many his works to go from cutting edge, to misunderstood, to hated and finally loved. Not many(any) architects can say that.
A great loss, it was truly a blessing we had him with us for so long.
wow what an amazing life.
He sounds like a wonderful human being from all this praise. I'm glad they built Brasilia if just to understand how truly dystopian that kind of architecture/urbanism can be. R.I.P.
Well that's one way to get out of the biz. Oscar could probably see the economic writing on the wall and chose to quit now rather than fight on. Good call.
Probably we'll see a lot more architect suicides in the coming years.
Yo!
He was a great inspiration for me, from the apparent simplicity of his sketches to the love of life working in architecture every day. I was hoping for more years. I also found very cheeky when he used to say that his designs curves were inspired by women’s curves… undeniable a Brazilian chap!
I wrote this a couple of years ago
Go Oscar go...102 years.
In 1964 Oscar Niemeyer designed a residence for the art doc and film director and also producer Joe Strick. I got to meet Joe Strick as he was partners with a friend of mine, screenwriter and director Fred Haines, who I invited and they arrived to party at the book launch of Voluptuous Panic held at Adam Parfrey's Echo Park house.
That was fun evening. Of course Parfrey and I asked Strick about working with Niemeyer but the owner and architect never did meet only corresponded.
Funny how it goes; Inventor and new cinema filmaker Stick hires a world famous architect Niemeyer to design a modern home in Los Angeles, then the Brazilian architect's only residence in North America. During construction Strick and his wife divorce. The property is sold and later forgotten, almost demolished, becomes a hot preservation issue 40 years later and today restored to its mid century modern charm by the new owners.
What could of been an incredible dialog between two creative individuals; the film maker artist Joseph Strick and architect Niemeyer just never developed. No Green Light as they say in Hollywood. No Hollywood ending.
But that night Strick and company were more interested in drinking beer and watching, appropriately, young German communists practicing nudist gymnastics in architectural formations. Busby Berkeley eat your heart out...
And a salute to Oscar
eric chavkin
Uplifting to view this article and several of the posts - on this sad day.
For info on the film project, 7 Films About Oscar Niemeyer, you might like to check out this link:
http://www.different-films.com/OSCAR
Please feel free to make contact: andy@different-films.com
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