| Oscar Niemeyer |
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"A arquitetura de Oscar Niemeyer tem um lugar decisivo, absolutamente singular, na história da arte contemporânea [...] ao longo de sua vida, Niemeyer foi firmando uma posição desassombrada, de homem engajado na evolução política da civilização, na luta pela paz mundial e - apesar de uma lúcida visão da fragilidade humana - na esperança de um tempo de justiça e fraternidade, onde parecem ficar os espaços que cria para os seus semelhantes, transeuntes passageiros da Terra [...] A admirável simplicidade com que Oscar Niemeyer reafirma sempre: 'a vida é mais importante que a arquitetura', marca, desde o nascimento, os três destinos da Fundação que leva o seu nome: a beleza, o humanismo e a liberdade."
ÍTALO CAMPOFIORITO, 1991
"Planning a church has proven an involved problem for contemporary architects. The general tendency is to go back to the old, well worn forms, because of some strange inhibition created by the subject itself. The Pampulha Church, however, had, of necessity, to maintain some spirit which prevails in the other buildings of that locality designed by Niemeyer, and to show a faith in the plastic possibilities of contemporary methods of construction. Two great vaults cover the nave and high altar and dominate the whole composition which develops into successive vaulting at the rear. The bell tower and the marquee at the entrance serve as contrasting elements [...] The building provoked, however, a great deal of animosity among some people. One mayor went as far as to propose the demolition of the building and its replacement by a copy of the church of Saint Francis in Ouro Preto. Prevented from doing this, he proceeded to have the church filled with altars, benches and pews of miscellaneous origin. Finally, the National Department of Artistic and Historical Patrimony decided to take the church under its jurisdiction, saving it from those who were either unable or unwilling to understand it."
STAMO PAPADAKI, no livro "The Work of Oscar Niemeyer", 1950, p93.
"Sited on a promontory some distance from the Pampulha amusement complex, this small church embodies an entirely revolutionary use of concrete for ecclesiastical purposes. At the time of its construction the only comparably daring structure had been Auguste Perret's vertical and largely precast structure at Raincy in France, built in 1924. Niemeyer employed the plastic qualities of concrete by using the same structural element for walls and roof in a series of parabolic arches. The outer screen wall on the north side is finished with a tiled mural depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis."
RUPERT SPADE, no livro "Oscar Niemeyer", 1971, p126. |
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