Architecture of Brazil

Building Facade, Recife.

The architecture of Brazil is influenced by Europe, especially Portugal. It has a history that goes back 500 years to the time when Pedro Cabral discovered Brazil in 1500. Portuguese colonial architecture was the first wave of architecture to go to Brazil. It is the basis for all Brazilian architecture of later centuries. In the 19th century during the time of the Empire of Brazil, Brazil followed European trends and adopted Neoclassical and Gothic Revival architecture. Then in the 20th century especially in Brasilia, Brazil experimented with Modernist architecture.

Portuguese colonial architecture

Portuguese colonial architecture, Salvador.

The colonial architecture of Brazil dates to the early 16th century when Brazil was first explored, conquered and settled by the Portuguese. The Portuguese built architecture familiar to them in Europe in their aim to colonise Brazil. They built Portuguese colonial architecture which included Churches, civic architecture including houses and forts in Brazilian cities and the countryside. They founded Recife, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador in the colonial period, these cities saw the best expression of Brazilian architecture.

19th century Brazilian architecture

Municipal Theatre of São Paulo shows Neoclassical architecture in Brazil.

19th Century Brazilian architecture is a period that saw the introduction of more European styles to Brazil such as Neoclassical and Gothic Revival architecture. This was usually mixed with Brazilian influences from their own heritage which produced a unique form of Brazilian architecture.

20th century Brazilian architecture

Brasilia National Congress, an example of Modernist architecture.

In the 1950`s Brazil decided to found a new capital city in the interior of Brazil to help develop Brazil`s interior. The city was Brasilia and it would see a great experiment in modernist architecture. Government buildings, Churches and civic buildings would be constructed in the modernist style.

References

• Hue, Jorge de Souza (1999). Uma visão da arquitectura colonial no Brasil [A vision of Colonial Architecture in Brazil] (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro.
• Boxer, Charles Ralph (1962). The Golden Age of Brazil, 1695-1750: Growing Pains of a Colonial Society. University of California Press.