ThePalácio da Alvorada(Portuguese pronunciation:[paˈlasjudawvoˈɾadɐ]) is theofficial residenceof thepresident of Brazil.It is located in thenational capitalofBrasília,on apeninsulaat the margins ofParanoá Lake.The building was designed byOscar Niemeyerand built between 1957 and 1958 in themodernist style.It has been the residence of every Brazilian president sinceJuscelino Kubitschek.The building is listed as aNational Historic Heritage Site.[1]
| Alvorada Palace | |
|---|---|
 Main façade of the palace | |
  Location in Brasília | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| Location | Brasília,DF |
| Address | Via Presidencial, Zona Cívico-Administrativa – CEP 70150-000 |
| Country | Brazil |
| Coordinates | 15°47′33.98″S47°49′19.83″W/ 15.7927722°S 47.8221750°W |
| Elevation | 1,172 m (3,845 ft) |
| Current tenants | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,President of Brazil |
| Construction started | 3 April 1957 |
| Inaugurated | 30 June 1958 |
| Renovated | 16 November 2005 |
| Client | PresidentJuscelino Kubitschek |
| Owner | Federal government of Brazil |
| Height | 32.82 ft (10.00 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 (above ground) 1 (below ground) |
| Floor area | 7,300 m2(79,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Oscar Niemeyer |
| Website | |
| gov.br/planalto | |
The Palácio da Alvorada is used as a residence and for official receptions. The president's workplace and center of the executive branch is thePalácio do Planalto.
Naming conventions
editThe building was initially referred to as the "Presidential Palace". The name "Palácio da Alvorada" ( "Palace of Dawn" ) comes from a quote byJuscelino Kubitschek:"Que é Brasília, senão a alvorada de um novo dia para o Brasil?"(" What is Brasília, if not the dawn of a new day for Brazil? ").[citation needed]
History
edit
The Palácio da Alvorada was the first government structure built in the newfederal capital.Construction began on April 3, 1957, and was completed on June 30, 1958. Niemeyer's project was based on the principles of simplicity andmodernity.
In the 21st century
editIn 2004, First LadyMarisa Letíciadirected the most extensive and historical restoration of the palace in its history. The project took two years to complete at a cost of $18.4 milliondollars.Research was conducted to restore the rooms anddécorto their original styles. Furniture and decoration objects were also restored. The electric and central air conditioning systems were replaced, and floor and ceiling work was done. Contrary to popular belief, the restoration was not paid by the government, but was part of an ongoing project of restoration of heritage sites under the direction of theNational Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritagewith funds donated by private corporations (for tax-deduction).
In January 2023, it was widely reported thatJair Bolsonaro,who lived in the building during his term as 38thPresident of Brazil,had "wrecked" the palace, leaving torn carpets and sofas, leaking ceilings, and broken windows and floorboards. A tapestry byEmiliano Di Cavalcantihad reportedly been moved from the library and hung into the sun, necessitating restoration work, and some artworks had disappeared entirely. A Brazilian cactus planted by Bolsonaro's predecessor and successor,Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,had been removed, and aballpoint pen– which Bolsonaro had used as a symbol of his administration – had been left on the desk.[2]
Architecture
editThebuildinghas an area of 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) distributed along three floors: basement, landing and second floor. Located in adjacent buildings within palace grounds are thechapeland theheliport.Thebasementlevel houses themovie theater,game room, kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the building's administration.
Ground floor
editTheground floorhouses the state rooms used by thepresidencyfor official receptions. It is made up of the Entrance Hall, Waiting Room, State Room, Library, Mezzanine, Dining Room, Noble Room, Music Room and Banquet Room.[3]
The Entrance Hall is the main entrance area of the palace. Its main feature is a golden wall inscribed with a phrase by president Kubitschek: "From this central plateau, this vast emptiness that will soon become the center of national decisions, I look once more at the future of my country and foresee this dawn with an unshakeable faith in its great destiny - Juscelino Kubitschek, October 2, 1956".[3]
The Waiting Room is decorated with a tapestry made by Concessa Colaço entitledManhã de Cores;two paintings byVicente do Rego Monteiro–AbstraçãoandCéu;and a work of art from Carlos Scliar entitledOs Barcos Esperam.[3]
The State Room is furnished with a mixture ofcontemporaryandantiqueitems. The main wall is made ofjacarandá-da-baía.Twosacred imagesstand out,Saint Mary MagdaleneandSaint Teresa of Ávila,both from the 18th centuryBaroquestyle. Kennedy Bahia’stapestry,entitledFlora e Fauna da Bahia,stands out on the wall, as well as paintings made byDjanira da Motta e SilvaentitledColhendo Café;by Maria Leontina, entitledCena II;and byAlfredo VolpientitledFachada em Oval.[3]
The Library's book collection includes 3406 literary works that range fromarts,philosophy,politicsandliteratureto generalhistoryand Brazilian history, among others. The library is decorated with a tapestry byEmiliano Di Cavalcanti–Músicos– and three framed old maps:South America(1645), Brazil (undated) andCaptaincies of Brazil(1656). There are also two small oil paintings,Moça Sentada ao Piano(1857) andSenhora Sentada(1885), byRodolfo Amoedo.[3]
The Mezzanine is a circulation area between the Entrance Hall, the Library and the Noble Room. It features a tapestry by Di Cavalcanti entitledMúmias,threeindigenousfunerary urnsfromMarajó Island,and two sculptures by Alfredo Ceschiatti.[3]
The Dining Room was added in 1992, and is decorated with a table and twelve English chairs inChippendale styleand two other Brazilian tables from the 18th century. Seventeenth-centuryFlemishpaintings byCornelis de HeemandJan van Huysumstand out in the room. Besides these works of art, the room is also decorated with two Baroque-style angels from the state ofMinas Gerais,and a set of porcelain from theEast India Companydating back to the 18th century.[3]
The Noble Room is divided into four sections in which stand out twoVictor Brecheretsculptures, entitledMorenaandSaindo do Banho.The contemporary section is decorated withMies van der Rohe’s furniture. The last two sections display a mixture of antique and contemporary Brazilian and foreign furniture. Two torch holders in golden wood and two sacred pieces are among them – The Holy Family and Sant’Ana Maestra – sitting on an 18th-century table. On the wall, anAldemir Martinspainting entitledVaqueiroand two works of art made byCandido Portinari–Jangadas do NordesteandOs Seringueirosstand out.[3]
The Music Room is located between the Noble Room and the Banquet Room. It features two upholstered sets of sofas separated by a German parlorgrand piano.In the back, on a wood dresser stand the statues ofSaint John the Evangelist(17th century),Saint Joachim(18th century).[3]
The Banquet Room was designed by Anna Maria Niemeyer, and features a large dining table with fifty seats. In the back of the room there is a 19th-century cedar dresser, next to two chests dated from the beginning of the 20th century. It is decorated by two tapestries entitledSaudades do Meu Jardim,from Concessa Colaço, a sculptureEdificação,byAndré Bloc,andsilverwarefrom theCatete Palace.[3]
Second floor
editThe second floor is the residential part of the palace, with the presidential apartment consisting of four suites, two guest apartments and other private rooms.
Staff and security
editThere are 160 employees currently working at the palace, including secretaries, assistants, waiters, cooks, doctors and security personnel. The palace complex is protected by thePresidential Guard Battalion.
See also
editReferences
editExternal links
edit
15°47′33.98″S47°49′19.83″W/ 15.7927722°S 47.8221750°W
- Gallery[1]
- ^Palácio da AlvoradaIPHAN. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.(in Portuguese).
- ^"Jair Bolsonaro wrecked Brazil's presidential palace, TV report suggests".the Guardian.2023-01-06.Retrieved2023-01-06.
- ^abcdefghijPalácio do PlanaltoPresidency of Brazil. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.