Wave-shaped vaults
Niemeyer's design.
Jane Reis Carvalho — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carmeladgl — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Daniel Raposo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paulo SP/ Wikimedia — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Pampulha Modern Ensemble is an urban project around the artificial Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais, designed in the 1940s by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer with the landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx and modernist artists. In July 2016 UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site, as an outstanding example of modern architecture and for its role in forging a Brazilian architectural identity. The ensemble has four buildings: the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi with its wave-shaped vaults and rear wall covered in a large blue tile panel by the artist Cândido Portinari; the round Casa do Baile, the dance hall, on a small island; the yacht club; and the former casino, now the Pampulha Art Museum. The best way to visit is to circle the lake by car or bicycle, stopping at each building. The Casa do Baile is free, while the art museum is closed for renovation, so check before going.
Niemeyer's design.
By Portinari.
On an island.
Around Lake Pampulha, north Belo Horizonte
Circle the lake by car or bicycle and stop at each building; the Casa do Baile is free and the art museum is currently closed for renovation.