Brasilia. Monumentality Issues

Brasília, designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, exemplifies monumental architecture as both a symbol of national identity and a physical manifestation of Brazil's historical aspirations. The city's design, rooted in the 'March to the West' vision championed by José Bonifácio and later embraced by President Juscelino Kubitschek, integrates volumetric simplicity, scale, and shape to stand out contextually while embodying the nation's past, present, and future ambitions. Niemeyer's Palácio da Alvorada (1956) serves as a case study in how monumental features—unusual size, form, and richness—can elevate architecture beyond functionality into cultural significance.

Comas, C. E. (2010). Brasilia. Monumentality Issues. Docomomo Journal, (43), 40–43. https://doi.org/10.52200/43.a.dm9eb04a