| Palácio do Planalto | |
|---|---|
The Palácio do Planalto and its reflecting pool at night |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Brasília |
| Country | Brazil |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 10 July 1958 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Oscar Niemeyer |
The Palácio do Planalto (Portuguese pronunciation: [paˈlasju du plaˈnawtu], Palace of the Highlands) is the official workplace of the President of Brazil.[1] It is located at the Praça dos Três Poderes in Brasília, Brazil. As the seat of government, the term Planalto is often used as a metonym for the executive branch of the government.
The main working office of the President of Brazil is in the Palácio do Planalto. The President and his or her family, however, do not live there; the official residence of the President is the Palácio da Alvorada. Besides the President, a few high advisers also have offices in the Planalto, including the Vice-President and the Chief of Staff; the other ministries are laid along the Esplanada dos Ministérios.
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The Palácio do Planalto was inaugurated on April 21, 1960, by President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was one of the first buildings inaugurated in the new capital city, along with the National Congress and Supreme Federal Court. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several heads of state and attracted thousands of spectators.[1]
In March 2009, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered an extensive restoration of the palace.[2] Decades of poor maintenance had taken a great toll on the structure built in 1958.[3] The restoration was completed on August 24, 2010, at a cost of R$ 111 million.[4] The restoration focused on: installing new electric, water and central air conditioning systems; complete dismantling of the interior spaces and construction of new interior divisions; restoration of the exterior façade (marble and granite); construction of an underground parking garage for 500 vehicles; substitution of the electrical generators; restoration of windows and doors; construction of emergency stairs; and upgrades to technological equipments (CCTV, computers, etc.).[3]
During the restoration process, the Executive Office was transferred temporarily to the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (English: Bank of Brazil Cultural Center) building and to the Itamaraty Palace.[5]
The presidential palace was a major feature of Lucio Costa's plan for the newly established capital city. The architect of the Palácio do Planalto was Oscar Niemeyer, who designed most of the important buildings in Brasília. The idea was to project an image of simplicity and modernity using fine lines and waves to compose the columns and exterior structures.[1]
The Palace has an area of 36,000 square metres (390,000 sq ft).[1] Four adjacent buildings are also part of the complex.[1]
The main building has four stories. The first floor consists of the Main Reception, Entrance Hall and Press Office. The second floor houses the East, Noble and West rooms, as well as the Supreme Meeting Room (also known as the Oval Room) and Press Secretariat. The Presidential Office and the offices of the senior advisors are located on the third floor. The Chief of Staff and the Military Cabinet are located on the fourth floor.[1]
The Palace is surrounded by a reflecting pool with an approximate area of 1,635 square metres (17,600 sq ft), holding 1,900 cubic metres (67,000 cu ft) of water, with a depth of 110 centimetres (3.6 ft).[1] Several Japanese carp live in the pool.[1]
The heliport is located by the north façade of the building.
The Palace used to be open to public visitation only on Sundays, from 9:30 am to 1 pm. Guided tours last 20 minutes. However, since the restoration begun it has been closed to public visitation.
During the week, access to the building is restricted to authorized personnel only. It is difficult to see the President. Only in special occasions does the President walk up or down the ramp in the front of the Palace. More often, he or she is escorted into the Palace through the north entrance.
The building is protected by the Presidential Guard Battalion of the Brazilian Army.
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