Brazil’s presidential Alvorada Palace celebrates 65th anniversary
From dawn to dusk, the sunlight glows. A golden panel by Athos Bulcão (1918–2008) decorates the entrance hall of the Alvorada Palace, the first government building in the Brazilian capital. On it, a dreamlike vision is rendered into words in relief:
Standing on this Central Plateau, in this solitude soon to be turned into the nerve center of high national decisions, I cast my eyes once again on my country’s tomorrow as I foresee this dawn [alvorada] with faith unbreakable and boundless confidence in its great destiny.
The text was written by then President Juscelino Kubitschek, who envisioned the construction of Brasília and moved the Brazilian capital from the coast of Rio de Janeiro to the central region of the country.
The estate, the official residence of Brazilian presidents and their families for 65 years today, is described by experts as “a special palace,” at once unique and diverse in its design. A brainchild of Oscar Niemeyer, the Alvorada was finished two years before the capital was inaugurated and is hailed by researchers as the embodiment of Brazilianness. In 1957, its construction began.
“I believe Niemeyer really showed his brilliance there. It’s his most important building. It boasts innovation and features everything that couldn’t be found in Brazilian architecture until that point,” says Director-Curator of Presidential Palaces of Brazil Rogério Carvalho. French writer André Malraux (1901–1976), he noted, stated that the palace columns were the most important architectural element since the Greek columns.
It is a surprising construction, Carvalho argued, both for visitors inside and outside. “English architect Norman Foster, for example, regarded as the world’s leading name in the field, was impressed with the quality of the architecture and the level of its finish.”
The project was made possible thanks to Kubitschek’s boldness, he added. “Its impact lingers on to this day. It’s an excellent work of modern architecture and really epitomizes the Brazilian home.”
Reopening
For its occupants, the sense of amazement is routine. “It’s impactful every day I spend here. Living here is remarkable. This is the historical building where so many former presidents have lived and countless historical decisions have been made,” said Brazil’s first lady, sociologist Rosângela Lula da Silva, usually referred to by Brazilians as Janja.
The first lady welcomed EBC reporters at the palace this week and confirmed her and President Lula’s desire to reopen its doors for visitation, suspended by the previous administration.
Janja told Agência Brasil she hopes the Alvorada can welcome the public early in 2024 at the latest, adding she would like its reopening ceremony to feature an exhibition of contemporary artists, particularly women. “I really like Djanira [1914–1979] and Tarsila do Amaral [1886–1973]. My dream is to have the Alvorada open again after we manage to bring Tarsila do Amaral’s Abaporu back to Brazil,” she said. Do Amaral’s main piece is currently in a museum in Argentina.
In Rogério Carvalho’s view, decorating government spaces with Brazilian art could not only spark interest in visitation, but also bring visibility to Brazilian works during illustrious events attended by other heads of state and international representatives at the Alvorada. “Our intention is to showcase the best Brazil has to offer. A very large flow of people come here, including representatives from other nations. This would help make these pieces be seen by more people.”
Diverse
Anyone in the premises comes in contact with a magnificently diverse construction, current today as it ever was in its 65 years of history.
In the view of University of Brasilia (UnB) Professor Maria Fernanda Derntl, the concept behind the Alvorada is a major departure from tradition. “It’s not an intricately embellished palace with heavy monumental atmosphere, as we’d expect from a Baroque or Renaissance palace.” Its monumental character, she argued, stems from the lightness of its architecture, a plastic expression of reinforced concrete with proportion and continuity between internal and external areas.
“Also interesting is the way the columns of the Alvorada Palace stand out as one of its most expressive elements, popularly reproduced and appropriated in other forms of architecture, advertisements, and all sorts of images.” The columns of the Alvorada, she noted, have become the very symbol of Brasília.
Professor Frederico Flósculo, also from UnB, explains that the palace was designed and built even before the urban planning contest for the new capital was over. “Kubitschek really wanted it to be ready beforehand. His goal was to determine what the new capital would look like. Since this was Brasília’s number one project, the Alvorada was particularly challenging because Oscar Niemeyer was fully aware of the importance of starting off well, with a palace built to be memorable.”
Architect Guilherme Essvein de Almeida, a specialist on the Alvorada Palace from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), says that the shape of the columns, which may resemble leaves, stems, or even ballerinas, are actually believed to have been inspired by ship sails. The construction is also said to be influenced by government palaces in Chandigarh, India.
“Its columns,” he said, “have been reproduced in other countries. The Alvorada Palace will never really age. All architects agree it’s part of our human heritage.”
