A Brief History of Brasília’s Satellite Cities


Cidade Livre, built with timber Fundo Novacap. Image © DF Public Archives

Cidade Livre, built with timber Fundo Novacap. Image © DF Public Archives

The construction of Brasília is a significant achievement in history and architecture. The Brazilian modernist movement definitively established Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer as their representatives. It led the modernist city to be tested as the new urban order. Nevertheless, the city did not emerge alone, nor was it completely utopic, modern, or modernizing. Alongside the new capital, planned and organic neighboring cities were built.

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