I’ve always said that architecture is one of the best topics to study in university- to consider the human scale, the context of the living environment and the context of both of those in the larger scale impact to the universe is a hard thing to design to and defend. Neimeyer’s OCA spaceship of a building hosted the architectural version of the biennial and it was so dense with thinking I insist that most people must have had no idea what these people are talking about except for the architects present.
As this is the final Neimeyer post from this trip, I can conclusively say ramps were a thing for him. I was curious the “why then” question on accessibility and the “what meaning” question regarding Neimeyer’s use:
Notes from Gemini:
- Physical accessibility in the built environment emerged in the late 1940s and 1950s, spurred by thousands of World War II veterans returning with permanent mobility impairments. What began as localized rehabilitation efforts expanded through grassroots activism into a civil rights movement, shifting the philosophy from “fixing the individual” to eliminating architectural barriers.
- Philosophically, by eliminating stairs, Niemeyer slowed down time and perception and evoked the “free and sensual” curve evoking the nature of Brazil.
This set of buildings in the park were designed and constructed in the 50s- a convergence of societal needs and aesthetic and experiential philosophy. This is the power of what humans can create- doing good in the making of the beautiful.
It deceptive in size from the outside- I was surprised at how approachable it felt from the exterior but the interior space was dwarfing in its capacity (not to mention the content as noted above).
I commend the architectural community and also the people of São Paolo for continuing to provide the opportunity for the showcase of this work, and the preservation of the philosophy of Neimeyer himself. I feel that despite not knowing Neimeyer well, he would believe that success in ideas had been achieved here.
Address: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, S/n – Portão 2 – Moema, São Paulo – SP, 04094-050, Brazil
Website: Arch Daily write up (Ibirapuera Park & Neimeyer)
