Oscar Niemeyer announces his resignation from his most recent project in Brasilia

February 5, 2009, Brasilia, Brazil. The Correio Brazilense morning newspaper ¿ founded in 1960 by art collector Assis Chateaubriand ¿ published a letter by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, who at age 101 has decided to cancel his last architectural project in the Brazilian capital, the city he designed 50 years ago. The project consisted of building the Plaza of Sovereignty, a property that guaranteed parking for more than 3,000 cars. Adjacent to the over 1,000-foot-tall projected obelisk was to be a monument designated to honor presidents; and in its center, a triangular space would initially host a permanent exhibit on Brazil¿s progress. The concept was to transform the space eventually into Brasilia¿s principal monument. Niemeyer decided to end the project this past February 4 after not receiving the necessary support from the Brazilian Government. ¿With sadness we met with my colleagues from Brasilia to evaluate what was occurring. We concluded that the Federal District Governor did not have ¿ as he had assured us ¿ the resources to take on the project about which he was so excited (¿) What to do? The only answer we were able to come up with was to be understanding and thank the Governor for his support, for his undeniable interest in the project, which although it was short-lived, presented an idea that caused great excitement in us. We hope that the project will resume at some point, and perhaps its realization will become a reality in the future¿.