JAN

Tree tribute: Offset house, São Paulo, Brazil by Shieh Arquitetos Associados.

Photos: Fernando Stankuns.

Continuing today’s theme of houses built around the appreciation of a particular tree, the Offset house in São Paulo, Brazil designed by Shieh Arquitetos Associados shows its appreciation of the magnificent tree already found on the site by articulating two halves of the building to create the impression that it wraps around the tree. From inside openings are placed at different levels, giving the viewer a perception of the tree’s full scale. Read more

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DEC

Oscar Niemeyer.

Photo: National Cathedral of Brazil.

One of Brazil’s most famous sons, and perhaps the last great Modernist, Oscar Niemeyer, has died aged 104. From Rio de Janeiro he was born in 1907, graduated in the mid 1930s and worked until well after his 100th birthday. As a life long communist he was forced into exile in 1964 when his country was taken over by a military dictatorship. He moved to France but his work took him all over the world. He returned to Rio in the 1980s.

He planned the city of Brasilia and designed many of its key buildings including the National Cathedral, the key ministries, and the National Museum of Brazil amongst many others. He also designed much of its housing. Brasilia is now a Unesco World Heritage site, and is the only modern city to be afforded such recognition. Read more

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SEP

V4 House, São Paulo, Brazil by Studio MK 27().

House from roof terrace.

This amazing house in São Paulo, Brazil was designed by Studio MK 27(), a Modernist Brazilian Practice. The truly amazing thing about the house is the expanse of vanishing glazing that turns the property into an outdoor space with a sun shade roof. Read more

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