Juscelino Kubitschek, the former mayor of Belo Horizonte and former president of Brazil, wanted to develop an area around the artificial lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state. Therefore, around 1940, he commissioned the design of a set of buildings from renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. Oscar was also responsible for the construction project of the current capital city of Brazil, Brasilia.
Oscar worked in collaboration with renowned engineer Joaquim Cardozo, and artists including Candido Portinari, to build a casino, a ballroom, a church, a golf yacht club and a hotel around the artificial lake. Except for the hotel, the cultural and leisure complex was inaugurated on May 16, 1943.
The team exploited the plastic potential (the moulding capability) of concrete, and integrated plastic arts (any art form which involves modelling or moulding in three dimensions) such as sculpture and ceramics in the buildings. Landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx reinforced the links between the buildings through designed gardens and a circuit of walkable spaces.
The Pampulha ensemble reflects the way principles of modern architecture evolved in the early 20th century from rigid constructivism and adapted organically to reflect local traditions, the Brazilian climate and natural surroundings.
The ensemble was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
Picture Credit : Google