Construction of Bible Museum in Brasília Sparks Controversy

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The construction of the ‘Museu da Bíblia’ (“Bible Museum”) in the central area of Brasília, based on a project by Oscar Niemeyer from the 1990s, is sparking controversy. The local Architecture and Urbanization Entities Collective (CEAU) published a note in which it raises concerns over the execution of the work, since Brasília is landmarked as heritage.

The entities further contest the implementation of the work of a deceased architect. “In consideration and acknowledgment of the significance of the work of our great architects and artists, these organizations recommend that sketches, preliminary studies, etc. of deceased architects, although they are valuable records of their ingenuity, are not developed and carried out by others,” says the note.

The president of CEAU, Daniel Mangabeira, explained that the entities suggest that all parties involved should be heard before the work begins: “The note sought to draw attention because the public must be heard, the Historical Heritage Institute must be heard. Clearly, if this construction is intended, and it is, where will it be implemented? Why did we choose to build from the Oscar Niemeyer design?”, he pondered.

The letter of intent to build the Bible Museum was signed on October 9th. The Federal District government’s plan is to raise R$63 million, without affecting local finances, to deliver the monument in 2022. The site will be able to hold 50,000 people.

The construction includes the work in the shape of an open bible, and will feature a movie theater, food court, theater, library, internal parking lot and rooms for lectures and exhibitions. It is expected that the Bible Museum will be built in an area of 15,000 square meters on the Eixo Monumental (Monuments Axis), where the Três Poderes Square is located but at the opposite end, near the Parque Indústrias de Abastecimento (EPIA) road, between Cruzeiro and the Setor Militar Urbano (“Urban Military Sector”), in central Brasília.

The Federal District’s population is divided with respect to the construction of the Bible Museum. Professor Sueli Cândido is opposed to the work. “My opinion is that it shouldn’t be built because the site is landmarked as heritage, and secondly because the state is secular. I believe it is not relevant, based on the assumption that we must maintain secularity and that we cannot have the interference of a single religion,” she argued.

Bárbara Gama, a sales manager, is in favor of the project. “I think the construction of the museum is valid. I believe that if Oscar Niemeyer can’t take responsibility for the project, I think another competent architect could take charge and take responsibility for it,” she said.

On the controversies raised by architectural organizations, the Secretariat of Urban Development and Housing said in a statement that the project of the museum does not infringe what is proposed in the Preservation Plan for the Eixo Monumental, because it is based on Ordinance 166 of May 5th, 2016 of the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage – IPHAN, that establishes guidelines for construction on the site.

According to the secretariat, Article 28 of the text provides that if new sites are proposed, these may not exceed ten percent occupation of the central portion of the Eixo Monumental, to maintain the area of preservation.

IPHAN has stated in a note that the project to build the Bible Museum has not yet been officially submitted to the institute for study and opinion. It further stated that the guidelines for the creation of sites at the western end of the Eixo Monumental are under discussion in the Executive Technical Group, comprising the Secretariats for Urban Development, Culture and Protection of the Planning Order in the Federal District.

Source: Agência Brasil