The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brasilia

Now that Neo-modernism has become the prevailing architectural fad, this book is more important than ever. It's important for up and coming young architects to get past form, learn about the negative effects of Modernist architecture on people and try to improve upon the mistakes of the past instead of just blindly copying them. Many people worship Niemeyer (deservedly so) but he made some serious errors during the design of this city, despite how beautiful the buildings are. As Holston points out a lot of blame also goes to Costa, the totalitarian minded planner who decided among other things to not build any sidewalks. Holston does a good job of documenting the contradictory treatment the government gave the workers who built Brasilia- from national heros during the construction to unemployed outcasts, banished to shantytowns dozens of kilometers from the city afterwards. No, this is not a complete work on the entire history of Brasilia, nor does Holston pretend that it is. It is one of the best critiques of the heavy-handed nature of modernist planning and architecture since Jane Jacobs. For Holston, Brasilia is the perfect case study. Brasilia is a fascinating, paradox-ridden city and this is a fascinating book. Holston's basically negative critique could be complimented with an orthodox modernist work (Radient City, or something about Niemeyer) to give newcomers to the world of modernist architecture a more balanced picture.

I read James Holston's book in graduate school and the bookprovides both an academic and professional expositionon Brasilia. The evolution of the city, its history, architectureand the city's sociology of development over a few decades arehighlighted. In almost 400 pages, it is a lot. Of coursethe book could go on and on and please every reader, butthat would not be necessary. The book provides adequateinformation for most readers on many facets of the city's development. It certainly was recommended to me by a good professor,and it meets my standard as a city planner. Adequate pictures. Great book.