Reyner Banham has described the pioneering work created in Brazil in the 1940s and 50s as forming the first ‘national’ style in modern architecture. While Europe and the USA were involved in World War II and its aftermath, the buildings of Oscar Niemeyer, Lúcio Costa and many others, took the ideas and forms of Le Corbusier (in particular) into new and exciting directions.

In the 1970s and 80s a further generation including Vilanova Artigas and Lina Bo Bardi represented a new toughness: this work, perhaps lesser known, is of equal interest and value in understanding the particularly Brazilian achievements in modern architecture.

Andrew Higgott will outline this story, with a particular emphasis on the contrasting approaches of Niemeyer and Bo Bardi.

Andrew is an architectural writer and teacher who has lectured widely, and has had teaching positions at the Architectural Association and the University of East London.

Book here