Oscar Niemeyer Quotes

A collection of quotes by Oscar Niemeyer.

Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012) was a renowned Brazilian architect and one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture. Known for his organic and curvilinear designs, Niemeyer's work often featured the use of reinforced concrete and a belief in architecture's social and political power. His notable creations include the design of BrasÃlia, the capital city of Brazil, as well as iconic buildings such as the NiterÃ³i Contemporary Art Museum and the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Niemeyer's architecture continues to inspire and influence architects around the world.

My work is not about form follows function, but form follows

My work is not about form follows function, but form follows beauty or, even better, form follows feminine.

I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art shou

I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art should cause the emotion of newness.

Sometimes I lose a whole morning waiting on journalists and

Sometimes I lose a whole morning waiting on journalists and other people who look for me. But I always find some time for reading, talking to my friends and feeling what is happening in this world.

Architecture will always express the technical and social pr

Architecture will always express the technical and social progress of the country in which it is carried out. If we wish to give it the human content that it lacks, we must participate in the political struggle.

It is not with architecture that one can disseminate any pol

It is not with architecture that one can disseminate any political ideology.

Architecture is invention.

Architecture is invention.

Architecture is my work, and I've spent my whole life at a d

Architecture is my work, and I've spent my whole life at a drawing board, but life is more important than architecture. What matters is to improve human beings.

Form follows beauty.

Form follows beauty.

Humanity needs dreams to be able to survive the miseries of

Humanity needs dreams to be able to survive the miseries of daily existence, even if only for an instant.

My work is not about 'form follows function,' but 'form foll

My work is not about 'form follows function,' but 'form follows beauty' or, even better, 'form follows feminine.'

It was the drawing that led me to architecture, the search f

It was the drawing that led me to architecture, the search for light and astonishing forms.

For me beauty is valued more than anything - the beauty that

For me beauty is valued more than anything - the beauty that is manifest in a curved line or in an act of creativity.

There is no reason to design buildings that are more basic a

There is no reason to design buildings that are more basic and rectilinear, because with concrete you can cover almost any space.