Accessibility and Modernist Architecture: The Work of Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil

Abstract

Mid-century Modern architecture represents a paradigm shift in the way society thought about the role of buildings. No longer exclusive to the rich or powerful, architecture became a utopian means including all of society, particularly the working class. This movement, originated in Europe, was adopted in the Americas, becoming influential not only in architecture but in other design professions as well. The quest for inclusion manifested in different forms, the most representative being the ramp as the primary means to enter a building. With the ramp, architecture opened its arms to the masses in a gesture welcoming everybody as equals. The ramp became an iconic element full of beauty and symbolism, even though at times it did not work technically. This chapter is about the way architects incorporated the use of the ramp in their buildings and the reasons behind their inclusion. The work of architect Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil will be highlighted in order to demonstrate that issues of inclusion were considered by architects decades before laws about accessibility were enacted.

Illustrations by Dustin Wheat