Oscar Niemeyer’s National Congress of Brazil, Brasilia

Since the 1960s, the National Congress has been located in Brasilia. As with most of the city’s government buildings, the National Congress was designed by Oscar Niemeyer in the modern Brazilian style. In 2007, the Brazilian Institute of Historic and Artistic National Heritage decided to declare the building of the National Congress a historical heritage of the Brazilian people. The building is also among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as part of Brasilia’s original urban buildings since 1987.

The building is located in the middle of the Monumental Axis, the main street of Brasilia. In front of it there is a large lawn where demonstrations take place. At the back of it, is the Praca dos Tres Podres, where lies Palacio do Planalto and the Supremo Tribunal Federal. The semi-sphere shape on the left is the seat of the Senate and the semi-sphere on the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them are two vertical office towers. The Congress also occupies other surrounding office buildings, some of which are interconnected by tunnels.