Brazil (Belo Horizonte, Contagem, Betim)

S19 51 7 W43 58 25

Date of Inscription: 2016

i. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;

iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

Property : 154 ha

Buffer zone: 1,418 ha

Ref: 1493

The Pampulha Modern Ensemble was the centre of a visionary garden city project created in 1940 at Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais State. Designed around an artificial lake, this cultural and leisure centre included a casino, a ballroom, government buildings, the Golf Yacht Club and the São Francisco de Assis church. It’s built around artificial lake, dotted with palm trees. The buildings were among the earliest works of designer and architect Oscar Niemeyer, in collaboration with innovative artists.

The Ensemble comprises bold forms that exploit the plastic potential of concrete, while fusing architecture, landscape design, sculpture and painting into a harmonious whole. It reflects the influence of local traditions, the Brazilian climate and natural surroundings on the principles of modern architecture.

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