Fact Finder - General Knowledge

Fact
The Airplane City: Brasília
Category
General Knowledge
Subcategory
World Capitals & Countries
Country
Brazil
Description
In 1960, Brazil officially moved its capital from the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, a brand-new city built in the country's interior. The move was designed to encourage development away from the coast and toward the vast hinterlands. Brasília is a landmark of modernist urban planning and architecture; it was designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer. When viewed from above, the city's main layout (the Plano Piloto) is famously shaped like an airplane or a bird in flight. The 'fuselage' contains the government buildings, including the Three Powers Plaza and the iconic Cathedral of Brasília, while the 'wings' are residential and commercial zones. Because of its unique design and artistic significance, Brasília is the only 20th-century city to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, the city is also criticized for being designed for cars rather than pedestrians, with vast distances and few street-level shops, reflecting the 'utopian' ideals of the mid-century modern era.