Oscar Niemeyer

Date of Birth: December 15, 1907

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: December 5, 2012

Biography

Oscar Niemeyer, born Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho, was a Brazilian architect who is considered one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture. He was born on December 15, 1907, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Niemeyer was best known for his design of civic buildings for Brasília, a planned city that became Brazil’s capital in 1960, as well as his collaboration with other leading architects on the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Niemeyer studied architecture at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes, graduating in 1934. Early in his career, he worked with the renowned architect Lúcio Costa and the celebrated Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. His designs are characterized by their bold, sweeping curves and the extensive use of concrete, which he molded into sensuous forms that defied traditional architectural norms of the time. Throughout his career, Niemeyer received numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1988. Despite facing political exile during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1960s, he continued to produce influential works globally, including in countries like France, Algeria, and Italy. Niemeyer passed away on December 5, 2012, just ten days short of his 105th birthday.

5 Interesting Facts about Oscar Niemeyer

1. Oscar Niemeyer was a lifelong member of the Brazilian Communist Party and remained politically active throughout his life.

2. He was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1988, one of the highest honors in architecture.

3. Niemeyer designed more than 600 projects in his lifetime, with around 400 of them built.

4. He lived to be 104 years old, continuing to work on architectural designs well into his 100s.

5. Niemeyer was instrumental in the design of Brasília, Brazil’s capital, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Oscar Niemeyer

1. “Form follows beauty.”

2. “My work is not about ‘form follows function,’ but ‘form follows beauty’ or, even better, ‘form follows feminine.’”

3. “Life is more important than architecture.”

4. “I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man.”

5. “Architecture is about surprise.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Oscar Niemeyer’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, but his extensive body of work and global influence suggest he was highly successful in his field.

Children

Oscar Niemeyer had one daughter, Anna Maria Niemeyer, who was born in 1930 and passed away in 2012. She was an important collaborator with her father and managed his works and legacy.