The Brazilian modernist landscape: an approach for its analyses and representation

The objective of the proposed essay is to enhance the understanding of the inner variety of proposals made by the Brazilian Modern Movement for the urban landscape deepening our knowledge of the complex dynamics of transformations that have shaped the conversation on landscape within the framework of CIAM - Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne. The focus on the central area of big cities as a hub of social interaction, the exploration of alternative options provided by low-rise, high-density housing units instead of housing towers, the utilisation of local construction techniques and materials, and the consideration of the geographical and cultural context all serve as noteworthy examples of the endeavour to redefine the functional aspect of a ‘city’ and the concept of landscape. These efforts give rise to a multitude of inquiries for researchers. While many of these proposals have not been successfully implemented, their extensive coverage in the international press and the involvement of renowned local professionals in these projects would enable to explore the integration of internationalism and regionalism in the urban experience of South America with a special focus on Brazil. The purpose of this paper is to examine projects that aimed to engage with local realities in strong interaction with architecture. These projects emerged during a time when there were efforts to redefine modernity on local bases in a country previously seen just as a colonial region.