Joao Filgueiras Lima, Núcleo Bandeirante, Brasilia, Brasil, 1978
OfHouses guest curated by CI-AA : ”For us, Postmodernism never reached Brazil perhaps due to
the strength of Brazilian Modernism’s authority, which was
further reinforced by Niemeyer’s iconic status. Lelé was a pupil
of Niemeyer but nevertheless developed his career with a post-Niemeyer approach. There is a simplicity and technical rigor
embedded in his work, a constant search for formal rationality
based on low-tech strategies of prefabrication, that made him
sympathize with the ideals of the Paulista Brutalism over a
long period of his career. However, the House Nivaldo Borges,
where traditional masonry construction technique is combined with his influences from Niemeyer and Artigas, represents
to us a moment of Lelé’s ideological release. During his career,
he overcame both modernist and brutalist dogmas, which
made him free to go a step further and become in our opinion,
one of the most important Brazilian architects.” (Photos: © Joana França.)
