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Supreme Federal Court Palace

The Supreme Federal Court Palace is the seat of the Supreme Federal Court, Brazilian highest appealing court and constitutional court. It was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer and the structural project was carried out by engineer Joaquim Cardozo.[1]

Supreme Federal Court Palace

Brazilian Supreme Court

1956–1960

21 April 1960 (1960-04-21)

Brazilian government

2007

1550

It is part of the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Plaza), whose other buildings are the Palácio do Planalto presidential palace and the National Congress. The building was declared a national heritage site by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) in 2007, the year that Niemeyer turned 100.[2]

Sculpture by Ceschiatti[edit]

The work "A Justiça" (The Justice) is located in front of the Supreme Court. The statue was sculpted in 1961 by Alfredo Ceschiatti.[3]

Architectural characteristics[edit]

The building is supported by side pillars and is slightly elevated from the ground, giving lightness to the whole. The structural calculations by Joaquim Cardozo allowed the foundations of the Supreme Court building and other palaces, as well as of the Cathedral of Brasília, to be thin, barely touching the ground.[1]