Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Contemporary art museum in Niterói, Brazil
The circular building rises 16 meters above a cliff overlooking Guanabara Bay, featuring a cupola 50 meters in diameter. The concrete and glass structure rests on a cylindrical base and is surrounded by a reflecting pool that enhances the futuristic architecture.
Oscar Niemeyer designed this structure with engineer Bruno Contarini, completing it in 1996 as a new cultural center for Niterói. The project emerged from collector João Sattamini's initiative to donate his extensive art collection to the city, prompting the creation of a dedicated space for contemporary art.
This institution holds 1,217 contemporary artworks from João Sattamini's collection, forming the second largest assemblage of its kind in Brazil. The museum has established itself as a significant center for modern Brazilian art, drawing both local and international visitors who come to study works by prominent artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with free admission for Niterói residents and cyclists. Visitors can reach the site by bus from central Rio de Janeiro or by driving across the Rio-Niterói Bridge, with parking available on site.
The disc-shaped design provides 360-degree views of Rio de Janeiro and Sugarloaf Mountain through floor-to-ceiling glass windows along the entire perimeter. Niemeyer created the building at age 89 and described it as one of his personal favorite creations among his many projects worldwide.
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