Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Cathedral of Brasilia) by Liam Lysaght is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Sometimes a building is so unusual it just makes you stop and stare. The Cathedral of Brasilia is one of those buildings. Located in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil it was designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. It was completed in 1970—and if it looks unusual today, just think about how it was received at that time!
Camila BSB 05_2006 55 by mariordo59 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Niemeyer was age 63 when it was completed. The Cathedral of Brasilia led to his award of the Pritzker Prize in 1988. (In the world of Architecture, the Pritzker Prize is the equivalent of the Nobel prize.) He was a great contributor to the Modernist movement and strove to create beautiful, functional buildings.
The 16 spires actually represent hands, reaching toward the sky. The Cathedral is “guarded” by four, nine-foot bronze sculptures that represent the Evangelists. Inside 3 angels are suspended from the ceiling by steel cables. They range from about 7 to 14 feet long and weigh in between 200 to 600 pounds each!
The Cathedral of Brasilia receives nearly 1,000,000 visitors each year, making it the most visited site in Brasilia. It’s hard to believe, but the Cathedral is over 40 years old. Although unusual, the design does have a timeless quality, which is probably why Niemeyer is so highly regarded.
