Across different languages and contexts, these modernist architects helped define the Brazilian urban landscape throughout the 20th century
Submitted at Mar 10, 2026, 9:00 AM
MASP- projetado por Lina Bo Bardi | (Hans Gunter Flieg/Divulgação)
Throughout the 20th century, architecture underwent a profound transformation. New materials, construction methods and ways of thinking about urban space gave rise to Modern Architecture, which sought to respond to the demands of a rapidly changing society. In Brazil, this renewal took on its own contours, incorporating climate, landscape and local ways of life.
In this process, several modernist architects played a decisive role by envisioning buildings, cities, and public spaces capable of engaging with the present and the future. Their works went beyond the field of architecture, influencing culture, urbanism and even the way Brazilians relate to their cities.
Few names are as closely associated with Brazilian architecture as Oscar Niemeyer. Known for the expressive use of reinforced concrete and for curved forms that challenge the rigidity of traditional geometry, the architect built a body of work recognized internationally.
O arquiteto brasileiro Oscar Niemeyer no Museu Oscar Niemeyer em Curitiba | (Nani Goes/Divulgação)
Among his most emblematic projects are several buildings in Brasília, a planned city from the 1950s. Works such as the National Congress and the Metropolitan Cathedral demonstrate how Niemeyer explored the plasticity of concrete to create monumental spaces that are also deeply symbolic.
Born in Italy and based in Brazil, Lina Bo Bardi became one of the most important figures among the modernist architects who worked in the country. Her work reveals a rare combination of architectural rigor and cultural sensitivity.
(Reprodução/Divulgação)
Projects such as the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) and Sesc Pompeia show how Lina conceived architecture as a space for conviviality. Instead of creating isolated buildings, she sought to integrate culture, city and everyday life, valuing encounters between people.
Urban planner, professor, and architect, Lúcio Costa played a central role in the consolidation of modernism in Brazil. In addition to promoting modern ideas, he was responsible for projects that defined new paths for Brazilian urbanism.
(Divulgação/Divulgação)
His best-known work is the Pilot Plan of Brasília, conceived from a clear logic of urban organization. The proposal combined monumental axes, residential areas and broad open spaces, reflecting the desire to plan a capital oriented toward the future.
Affonso Eduardo Reidy was responsible for some of the most sophisticated projects of Brazilian modernism. His architecture reveals a balance between structural rationality and attention to the urban context.
Affonso Eduardo Reidy (Divulgação/Divulgação)
Among his best-known works is the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro, designed in the 1950s. The building stands out for the lightness of its structures and for its integration with the landscape of Aterro do Flamengo.
João Batista Vilanova Artigas was an important mentor to generations of architects. His work as a professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the University of São Paulo profoundly shaped the teaching of the discipline in the country.
(Itaú Cultural/Divulgação)
Among his most emblematic works is the FAU-USP building, whose open, monumental structure reflects the idea of architecture as a space for gathering and debate. The project expresses a collective vision of architecture, in which circulation and conviviality play a central role.
A leading representative of the so-called Paulista School, Paulo Mendes da Rocha developed an architecture marked by structural strength and constructive clarity. His works often explore concrete in a direct way, making the structure itself part of the architectural expression.
(Divulgação)
Among his best-known projects are the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture (MuBE), in São Paulo, and the renovation of the Pinacoteca do Estado. In both cases, the architect demonstrates an interest in the relationship between building, public space and the circulation of people.
Although he is often remembered as a landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx also holds a relevant place among Brazilian modernist architects. His work redefined the way of thinking about gardens and public spaces, bringing landscape design and art closer together.
Há 30 anos, morria Roberto Burle Marx, maior nome do paisagismo brasileiro. (TYBA/Divulgação/Divulgação)
Burle Marx incorporated species from Brazilian flora into innovative compositions, often marked by organic designs and color contrasts. His projects helped turn the garden into a fundamental part of the architectural experience.
This text was produced with the support of CASACOR Publisher, an exclusive content-creation agent, developed by the CASACOR Technology team from the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.
