Life is more important than architecture.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
In architecture it isn't enough to just have the right building that works well. It can also be beautiful. It can also be different. It can create surprise. And surprise is the main thing in a work of art. [] I like and respect Brasília very much. It is a simple city, a rational one. I always defend the urban design of Brasília
Interpretation
What this quote means
Architecture should balance functionality with beauty and innovation.
This quote emphasizes that architecture is not solely about the practical aspects of a building but also about its aesthetic appeal and uniqueness. Oscar Niemeyer highlights the importance of surprise as a key element in creating impactful art, suggesting that a well-designed building should evoke emotional responses and stand out in its environment.
Themes
ArchitectureBeautyDesignSurpriseArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation about urban planning, you might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of integrating beauty into functional designs.
More from Oscar Niemeyer
All quotes →I deliberately disregarded the right angle and rationalist architecture designed with ruler and square to boldly enter the world of curves and straight lines offered by reinforced concrete... This deliberate protest arose from the environment in which I lived, with its white beaches, its huge mountains, its old baroque churches, and the beautiful suntanned women.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
We need to feel that life is important; we need that fantasy so we can live a little better.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
Here, then, is what I wanted to tell you of my architecture. I created it with courage and idealism, but also with an awareness of the fact that what is important is life, friends and attempting to make this unjust world a better place in which to live.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
When you have a large space to conquer, the curve is the natural solution.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
I was attracted by the curve — the liberated, sensual curve suggested by the possibilities of new technology yet so often recalled in venerable old baroque churches.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
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