Gallery: A Look Back at Oscar Niemeyer, Master of Curved Concrete
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*Brazilian National Museum, Brasilia, Brazil* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Museu_Nacional,_Brasilia_05_2007.jpg)
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*Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. This was the project that catapulted Niemeyer to international attention. It was part of the "Pampulha architectural complex," which included a casino, a restaurant/dance hall, a yacht club, a golf club and a church, all distributed around an artificial lake. The church's design was controversial; Niemeyer likened it to a hangar for god, the Archbishop of Belo Horizont likened it to "the devil's bomb shelter." Despite being completed in 1943, it was not consecrated until 1959.* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_Pampulha.jpg)
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*The U.N. Headquarters, as built, is a collaboration between Niemeyer and Corbusier. Niemeyer's original vision called for a large public square in the center of the site. Their final joint proposal, known as 23-32, moved the Assembly Hall to the center.* The entire U.N. H.Q. campus is undergoing a total renovation now till 2014. In the interim, delegates are using temporary buildings to conduct their meetings and backroom deals.
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*Here's one for the conspiracy buffs: The same guy who created the U.N. Headquarters, designed the French Communist Party H.Q. In 2000, Italian fashion house Prada rented the building to present its collection. *Photo: Christophe Ena/AP**
Screenshot: Roberto Baldwin/WIRED05cn
*Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Center, Avilés, Spain.* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CentroNiemeyer1.jpg)
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*National Congress of Brazil. The building was completed in the 1960s. On the left are the Senate chambers, while the Chamber of the Deputies sits on the right. The tower in the middle is where everyone's offices are. The building is among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Congresso_brasilia.jpg)
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*Palácio do Planalto, headquarters of the Executive Branch of the Brazilian Government, located at the Plaza of the Three Powers, in Brasília, Brazil.* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palacio_do_Planalto.jpeg)
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*Unlike Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Cathedral of Brasília was consecrated relatively quickly. Unfortunately, though the work is visually stunning, the acoustics are such that echoes make hearing the homilies very difficult. Renovations are underway.* Photo: [carlosoliveirareis](http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlosoliveirareis/1353107514/)/Flickr
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*Federal Supreme Court in Brazil. The building sits across a plaza from the National Congress of Brazil, along with the presidential offices.* Recently, it was the subject of a little bit of viral video action when supersonic jets [shattered the windows during a fly-by](http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/43955/shockwaves-damage-oscar-niemeyer-brasilia-landmark/). Photo: [Leandro's World Tour](http://www.flickr.com/photos/leandrociuffo/5944394217/)/Flickr
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*Oscar Niemeyer Museum, Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil.* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Museu_Oscar_Niemeyer_2_Curitiba_Brasil.jpg)
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*Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Though it looks like a UFO, this project was sadly marred by a very earthly scandal. The land where it is located was locked out of construction by city council, until the new mayor Jorge Roberto Silveira secured a permit for the project. What the council didn't know was that Roberto's colleague Zeca Mocarzel had bought the land for cheap from the old owner, who thought it would never be developed.* Photo: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Niter%C3%B3i_Contemporary_Art_Museum.jpg)
