The Brasilian architect Oscar... by lichinga
The Brasilian architect Oscar Niemeyer is a genius: that is out of discussion! The concept of Brasilia has been a surprising masterpiece, by an artistic point of view.The first obstacle to overtake was to transform the excessively dry climate of the plateau into something bearable by human beings (although everybody claims the dry and hot air remains very unpleasant): a lake has been filled, by building a dam. The arch described by the waters is also the basis for designing the arch, whose arrow is defined by the main avenue (paralleled by the Minitsries and the rest of the most important Public Buildings), and the Presidential Palace (Palacio do Planalto) is the terminating point, accompanied by an enormous Brasilian flag. What was not planned was the fact that 200 m away, just behind a low line of shrubs, a large 'favela' raised. Brasilia is an enormous arrow, which is ready to be launched towards the New Frontier: Amazon rainforest. Every space in Brasilia is thought as the best answer to a specific problem: the city itself is perfectly functional.... if only men were machines! There are special areas for Banks, for Shops, for Amusements, for the Embassies, for Residences, but people like to make thing at their own dimension, not just because it is logical. So Brasilia's initial plan has been disrupted by real life.
The other enormous problem is given by distances. It's impossible - and unuseful - to try to walk in Brasilia, you must have a car, but having a car is not so easy in Brazil (and it would always be arguable by an ecological point of view in any country of the World). So everything is based on public transport - which does not make life easy.
