Infinite Span: 90 Years of Brazilian Architecture

Span in architecture is a challenge to overcome, but it can also mean a project or action that ends in failure. In Brazil, modernization was seen as a leap over the country's history and an opportunity to transform what could be done in vain into an effective cultural conquest of the free span. This publication assembles representative projects and works of Brazilian architecture made between 1920 and 2018, highlighting the intersections between architecture, music, literature, cinema, and performing arts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 05 June 2019
Publisher: Lars Muller Publishers

Architecture is a realm where spans beckon to be conquered, presenting formidable challenges that demand ingenuity and creativity. One approach to surmounting these obstacles is by reducing the number of supports, expanding floor slabs horizontally, incorporating open-air elements, and bringing ample natural light to the ground floor. However, the term "span," or "vão" in Portuguese, carries a dual meaning: it can also signify a project or action that ultimately fails, resulting in a vain endeavor. For Brazilian architects, the word "vão" holds a profound significance, representing freedom and liberation from traditional constraints. In Brazil, modernization was heralded as a monumental leap forward, casting historical "backwardness" and the absence of classical and artisanal traditions in architecture as barriers to progress. Yet, this challenge was met head-on by an audacious aesthetic avant-garde, driven by a passion for innovative design and remarkable engineering. Brazil is a nation "condemned to the modern," as critic Mário Pedrosa observed, perceiving this condemnation as a liberation from tradition and an opportunity to transform what once seemed futile into a powerful cultural conquest of the free span. This publication presents a comprehensive collection of representative projects and works of Brazilian architecture spanning from 1920 to 2018. Prominent figures such as Oscar Niemeyer, Roberto Burle Marx, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Sérgio Ferro, and Lina Bo Bardi are featured, showcasing the country's rich architectural heritage. Through crosscutting dialogues between the presented projects, the book seeks to highlight the intersections between architecture, music, literature, cinema, and performing arts. The book is organized into six chronological and thematic modules, each titled after renowned songs from each period.

Weight: 1662g
Dimension: 219 x 279 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783037785898