Cathedral of Brasilia
The Cathedral of Brasilia is a Roman Catholic cathedral which serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Brasilia. It is one of many public buildings in the Brazilian capital which were designed by the architect Oscar Niemeyer. Niemeyer’s intention was to create a volume that has the same ‘purity’ from any perspective.
The cathedral is a hyperbolic structure built from concrete. It measures 40 m in height and is capable of holding up to 4,000 people. The base is circular and measures around 60 m in diameter.
The structure, with its glass ceiling, is supported by 16 curved steel columns which weigh 90 tonnes each. The large stained glass windows are shaped into triangles that fit together between the columns. The windows measure 30 m high and 10 m across at the base.
The cathedral’s bell tower houses four bells that were donated by Spain. Inside the nave, three sculptures of angels are suspended by steel cables. These range in size from 2.22-4.25 m in length and weigh 100-300 kg each.
The foundation stone was laid in 1958 and the building was completed in May 1970. Since then, it has become a popular tourist attraction and an iconic symbol of Brasilia.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Brazilian Modernism lecture.
- Cathedral.
- Durham Cathedral's Open Treasure project.
- Floors of the great medieval churches.
- Florence Cathedral.
- Heddal stave church, Norway.
- Lotus temple.
- Maracana Stadium.
- National Library of Latvia.
- Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum.
- Notre Dame du Haut.
- Sagrada Familia.
- St. Basil’s Cathedral.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral.
- St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Unusual building design of the week.
Featured articles and news
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.