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I deliberately disregarded the right angle and rationalist architecture designed with ruler and square to boldly enter the world of curves and straight lines offered by reinforced concrete.: This deliberate protest arose from the environment in which I lived, with its white beaches, its huge mountains, its old baroque churches, and the beautiful suntanned women.

Oscar Niemeyer#4

ArchitectureDesignCreativityCultureNature

About this quote

What does it mean?
He explains rejecting rigid right angles for curves made possible by concrete, inspired by nature and culture.
In plain terms
I ignored straight lines to use curves from nature and old churches.
What can you take from it?
Let your environment shape your creative choices.

Where it applies

  • creative work
  • urban planning
  • art creation

Putting it to work

  • look outside
  • break rules
  • find inspiration

Questions to consider

  • How does your place inspire you?
  • What rules do you ignore?

Another view

Sometimes structure is necessary for function.

More from Oscar Niemeyer

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

    Permalink to quote #3
  2. I was attracted by the curve - the liberated, sensual curve suggested by the possibilities of new technology yet so often recalled in venerable old baroque chu…

    Permalink to quote #5
  3. I have always accepted and respected all other schools of architecture, from the chill and elemental structures of Mies van der Rohe to the imagination and del…

    Permalink to quote #2

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