This is the new paperback edition of the most comprehensive survey of twentieth-century Brazilian architecture, analyzed by a new generation of critics and historians. The book covers about 200 buildings and urban designs, presenting key events and projects within a series of thematic chapters. It is extensively illustrated with archival black-and-white and new color photographs as well as drawings and sketches. It offers a fresh reading of Brazil's era of high modernism from the 1930s through the 1960s, placing it in context with regards to earlier and later architectural movements as well as the broad changes taking place in Brazilian culture at the time. The book also charts post-Brasilia developments, including case studies of contemporary projects, showing the relevance of Brazilian architecture within the international scene.
Review
'The creative richness of Brazilian architecture, and the very high critical level of some of the writing in this book [...] suggest that far from worrying about Brazil being provincial, as the authors fear, it is we in Europe how need to learn from their experience...the book is filled with the most beautiful, adventurous modern architecture one has seen anywhere...By combining immense beauty with deep tragedy, perhaps this book exactly captures the spirit of Brazilian architecture, as in the samba by Cazuza, its beauty making everything "por um segundo mais feliz" (a little happier, for just a moment).' (Thomas Muirhead, Building Design)'Tells the story...of what made the country's populace open to Le Corbusier's radicalism and Niemayer's modernism while living in shanty towns that would disgrace Calcutta.' (Arena)'Beautifully illustrated.' (RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects))'Exemplary...The text is serious yet clear, and enhanced by stunning photographs...Best of all, there is a list of buildings to visit, and contacts for those open only by appointment. Plan your trip now.' (Architect's Journal)'Serves up a selection of the most heroic and expressionist modern architecture.' (Wallpaper*)'Having spent a recent trip to Brazil constantly in this book's company, I'm now inordinately attached to it. At each stop, it was reverently taken out of the suitcase, placed on the desk, consulted, then packed up and hauled on to the next stop...Overall, I could not have asked for a more useful or enlightened guide than Brazil's Modern Architecture...well-written...meticulously produced...beautiful visual material.' (Contemporary)'The introduction provides an excellent overview of Brazilian Modernism and its context...an elegantly produced, generously illustrated and highly readable book...It is rare to find a book of this kind covering so well a wide range of issues.' (The Architectural Review)
