Palácio da Alvorada

Naming conventions

The building was initially referred to as the "Presidential Palace". The name "Palácio da Alvorada" ("Palace of Dawn") comes from a quote by Juscelino Kubitschek:

History

The Palácio da Alvorada was the first government structure built in the new federal capital. Construction began on April 3, 1957, and was completed on June 30, 1958. Niemeyer's project was based on the principles of simplicity and modernity.

2004–2006 restoration

In 2004, 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 National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage with funds donated by private corporations (for tax-deduction).

Architecture

The building has an area of 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) distributed along three floors: basement, landing and second floor. Located in adjacent buildings within palace grounds are the chapel and the heliport. The basement level houses the movie theater, game room, kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the building's administration.

Ground floor

The ground floor houses the state rooms used by the presidency for official receptions. It is made up of the Entrance Hall, Waiting Room, State Room, Library, Mezzanine, Dining Room, Noble Room, Music Room and Banquet Room.

The Entrance Hall is the main entrance area of the palace. Its main feature is a golden wall inscribed with a phrase by president Kubitschek: "From this central plateau, this vast loneliness that will soon become the center of national decisions, I look once more at the future of my country and foresee this dawn with an unshakeable faith in its great destiny - Juscelino Kubitschek, October 2, 1956".

The Waiting Room is decorated with tapestry made by Concessa Colaço entitled Manhã de Cores; two paintings by Vicente do Rego Monteiro – Abstração and Céu; and a work of art from Carlos Scliar entitled Os Barcos Esperam.

The State Room is furnished with a mixture of contemporary and antique items. The main wall is made of jacarandá-da-baía. Two sacred images stand out, Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Teresa of Ávila, both from the 18th century Baroque style. Kennedy Bahia’s tapestry, entitled Flora e Fauna da Bahia stands out on the wall, as well as paintings made by Djanira da Motta e Silva entitled Colhendo Café; by Maria Leontina, entitled Cena II; and by Alfredo Volpi entitled Fachada em Oval.

The Library's book collection includes 3,406 literary works that range from arts, philosophy, politics and literature to general history and Brazilian history, among others. The library is decorated with a tapestry by Emiliano Di Cavalcanti – Músicos – and three framed old maps: South America (1645), Brazil (undated) and Captaincies of Brazil (1656). There are also two small oil paintings, Moça Sentada ao Piano (1857) and Senhora Sentada (1885), by Rodolfo Amoedo.

The Mezzanine is a circulation area between the Entrance Hall, the Library and the Noble Room. It features a tapestry by Di Cavalcanti entitled Múmias, three indigenous funerary urns from Marajó Island, and two sculptures by Alfredo Ceschiatti.

The Dining Room was added in 1992, and is decorated with a table and twelve English chairs in Chippendale style and two other Brazilian tables from the 18th century. Seventeenth-century Flemish paintings by Cornelis de Heem and Jan van Huysum stand out in the room. Besides these works of art, the room is also decorated with two Baroque-style angels from the state of Minas Gerais, and a set of porcelain from the East India Company dating back to the 18th century.

The Noble Room is divided into four sections in which stand out two Victor Brecheret sculptures, entitled Morena and Saindo do Banho. The contemporary section is decorated with Mies van der Rohe’s furniture. The last two sections display a mixture of antique and contemporary Brazilian and foreign furniture. Two torch holders in golden wood and two sacred pieces are among them – The Holy Family and Sant’Ana Maestra – sitting on an 18th-century table. On the wall, an Aldemir Martins painting entitled Vaqueiro and two works of art made by Candido Portinari – Jangadas do Nordeste and Os Seringueiros stand out.

The Music Room is located between the Noble Room and the Banquet Room. It features two upholstered sets of sofas separated by a German parlor grand piano. In the back, on a wood dresser stand the statues of Saint John the Evangelist (17th century), Saint Joachim (18th century).

The Banquet Room was designed by Anna Maria Niemeyer, and features a large dining table with fifty seats. In the back of the room there is a 19th-century cedar dresser, next to two chests dated from the beginning of the 20th century. It is decorated by two tapestries entitled Saudades do Meu Jardim, from Concessa Colaço, a sculpture Edificação, by André Bloc, and silverware from the Catete Palace.

Second floor

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.

Staff and security

There are 160 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.