“I write a text to go with them (the drawings) and read it back to make sure it makes sense, common sense. If not, I have another argument with myself, and produce a new drawing. When this reads clearly and simply, there you have the building. This is it. Nothing more.”
Oscar Niemeyer
Regardless of scale—urban or architectural—Oscar Niemeyer always presented his projects in the same way: with text and sketches. These sketches, quickly drawn by the architect himself, were intended to be didactic, as an easy way to grasp a concept or a specific tectonic detail.
Typically, there would be two drawings: the chosen solution and the one deemed incorrect, marked with a large X. By rejecting the ordinary, the banal, the repetitive, the irregular, or anything that could obstruct a view, Niemeyer reinforced his reputation for unusual forms, spatial generosity, and transparency.
This small collection shows situations that Niemeyer disliked and experiments with possibilities he once discarded.
