Brasilia

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil to attend a conference. Despite being the seat of government and possessing some of the best examples of modernist architecture in the world, the city is seldom visited due to its incredibly remote location. Pictured to the left is the presidential palace. Under the direction of President Juscelino Kubitschek, Brasilia was constructed out of nothing in just four years. The location was so remote that there was not a paved road within 200 kilometers of the site when work began. The city is also known for having perhaps the most rigid zoning laws in the world, with the initial city plan dictating the most minute details down to the presence of lamp posts and newsstands.

Pictured to the left are the congressional offices, with the Senate Chambers in the domed building and the House in the bowl. The two towers between serve as the offices of the congresspeople. To the left is the view from inside the Metropolitan Cathedral. Each of these buildings were designed by Oscar Neimeyer, who was given nearly full control over the architecture of the city.