As the class came to an official close today with wonderfully insightful presentations that really showcased the divergent growth path of each section, each selected post and topic brought me back to the different points in time throughout the course. Thinking back on everything we learned, I was impressed with how relevant everything was to the present, particularly ideas for buildings that were never built yet are still being analyzed and pored over today.
In reflecting on the passage of time, I was reminded of the unfortunate passing of one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture, Oscar Niemeyer. On December 5th, 2012, one of Brazil's brightest minds passed away at the age of 104. Responsible for the iconic planned city of Brasília, Niemeyer was revolutionary and inventive, finding inspiration in nature's crescents and spirals rather than the standard confining steel-box structures of many modernist architects. A man ahead of his time, it is hard to believe that it is now past his time.
