Brasilia, is it wise to build an entirely new capital?

I will say no, but when the country needs more space in the capital and the old one is too crowded, I can see why they had to build Brasilia. However, when large egos and the urge to leave a footprint after themselves, as President Kubitschek and architect Oscar Niemeyer did, the idea became a reality. This was in the 1960s, and the city rose swiftly from the dust. I can not say it wasn’t nice; they left behind some fantastic betong architecture, but it lacked charm and warmth.

Creating from scratch

I am writing my opinion here so experts will probably see it differently. However, when creating a big city from scratch, you also have the freedom to build wide roads and boulevards and make good space for parks and leisure areas, and this is something they did. It is fun when you see the map from a bird’ s-eye view; the city looks like an aeroplane. They call the “wings” the South wing and the North wing.

This is not possible to see when you fly in, but on the ground, you know how the big roads lead along the wings to the centre, and the “plane body” is dedicated to parks and state buildings. They say the “aeroplane design” is not as evident now as when the city was new because it needs more suburbs for its citizens. I am convinced that creating such a big project from scratch was great fun.

Catedral Metropolitana

The outside picture of this cathedral can be seen in my first post from Brazil. It is one of Brasilia’s most famous buildings and one of Oscar Niemeyer’s designs. Although an outspoken communist and atheist, Niemeyer could still create magnificent religious buildings. The pillars should resemble a crown of thorns. Between them, the glass windows unite a fluid series of colours. To enter the cathedral, you walk down a slope and into the underground waste room.

Another church in Brasilia

I also have to mention the Santuário São João Bosco. The church has narrow pillars and fantastic blue glass mosaic windows. All four walls are like this, giving the room a unique atmosphere. Architect Carlos Alberto Naves designed it, so Niermeier was not alone in creating the new city. I think that this church is worth a visit.

My objective view on Brasilia

Brazilians warned me before booking my trip here that Brasilia is boring. However, I find architecture from the 1960s interesting, and it is nice to see that the city has a lot of planning around it. I think a new town will lack old quarters, with older worn buildings, which may attract artists, the bohemians for the galleries, and the cafe life. You feel that the whole city is a prominent suburb where you live and go to work. I did not find the cosy places but might have looked at the wrong areas. Still, I did not regret going there.

Building new capital in countries around the world is not a new thing. Several have done that in the last century. The only one I have been to is Islamabad, at the same time as Brasilia. You had the same there; no place had a charm. Indonesia is about to build a new capital now.