Palácio da Alvorada
| Palácio da Alvorada | |
|---|---|
 South Facade of the Alvorada, the reflecting pool and the bronze sculpture by Cheschiatti |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Brasília |
| Country |  Brazil |
| Construction started | 3 April 1957 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Oscar Niemeyer |
The Palácio da Alvorada (Portuguese pronunciation: [paˈlasju dɐ awvoˈɾadɐ], Palace of Dawn) is the official residence of the President of Brazil. The palace was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and inaugurated on June 30, 1958.
The name comes from the quote of Juscelino Kubitschek:
| “ | Que é Brasília, senão a alvorada de um novo dia para o Brasil? | ” |
or, in English:
| “ | What is Brasília, if not the dawn of a new day for Brazil? | ” |
Contents |
[edit] Architecture
One of the first structures built in the Republic's new capital city, the "Alvorada" lies on a peninsula at the margins of Lake Paranoá. The principles of simplicity and modernity, that in the past characterized the great works of architecture, oriented Niemeyer's project. The viewer has an impression of looking at a glass box, softly landed on the ground with the support of thin external columns.
The building has an area of 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) distributed along three floors: basement, landing and second floor. On the basement level are located the auditorium, kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the building administration. On the landing are located the state rooms used by the presidency for official receptions. The second floor is the residential part of the palace, with the presidential apartment consisting of four suites, two guest apartments and other private rooms. The building also houses a library, a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool, a music room, two dining rooms and various meeting rooms.
Located in adjacent buildings within palace grounds are the chapel and the heliport.
[edit] 2004 restoration
In 2004, the First Lady Marisa Letícia directed 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 million dollars. Research was conducted to restore the rooms and décor to 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 the IPHAN (Brazilian Institute for the Historic and Artistic Heritage) with funds donated by private corporations (for tax-deduction).
This restoration was necessary because electric and hydraulic structures had not aged well and because the general appearance of the palace had deteriorated.
[edit] Staff and security
There are 72 employees currently working at the Palace, including secretaries, assistants, waiters, cooks, doctors and security personnel. The palace complex is protected by the Presidential Guard Battalion.
[edit] Gallery
[edit] Interior
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Gold mural at the Entrance Hall
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The Banquet Hall
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The State Room
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The Music Room
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The Mezanine
[edit] Exterior
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South Façade and the Reflecting Pool
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Exterior view
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Chapel and the gardens
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"The Iaras", bronze sculpture by Cheschiatti
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The Palace at night
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Palace Guard
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Palácio da Alvorada |
Coordinates: 15°47′33.98″S 47°49′19.83″W / 15.7927722°S 47.822175°W
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