The Dark Side of Oscar Niemeyer

Brazil's most celebrated architect leaves behind a decidedly mixed legacy.

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Niemeyer's focus was on aesthetics, and he has been criticized for prioritizing form over function in his buildings. One example: Brasilia's glass-ceilinged cathedral, which, though iconic, on hot sunny days rapidly transforms into an airless oven.  Above, a night view of the cathedral from 2007.

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