Yesterday the great architect Oscar Niemeyer died.  Niemeyer was best known for his design of civic buildings for Brasilia, a planned city which became Brazil’s capital in 1960, as well as his collaboration with other architects on the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

My little tribute to him is talking today about the Cathedral of Brasilia (or Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida), dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Aparecida on May 31, 1970. Niemeyer’s project was based in the hyperboloid of revolution which sections are asymmetric. The hyperboloid structure itself is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven.

So let’s enjoy the hyperbolic shape of this building as a tribute to this great Brazilian architect!

Cathedral of Brasilia
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: Cathedral of Brasilia (map)