Crossing the the Guanabara Bay to Niteroí is an awe inspiring experience. The bridge just grows and grows into the fog of the bay. Oil tanks park, freckling the waves. The coast of Niteroí is covered in docks and cargo bays, building rigs and ships. Just past the gully of frights and container we headed up into the hills, soon revealing to us The Contemporary Art Museum, hugging the coastline. To one side the docks to the other multimillion Dollar condos.
The museum was envisioned and designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The structure is extremely figural. Mushroom like it stands on a small mirroring pool, reflecting the structure down. A long curving ramp leading up to the first level quickly spirals 360 degrees upward to the second. Here on the second level is the main portion of the museum and the space Niemeyer wanted to be entered first. The ramp is iconic of the classics Niemeyer spiraling stairs. He also uses it as a subtle way of introducing the brillian is pop of red to the white mass, drawling visitors up and into the structure.
Although this building is fantastic, we were unable to explore the interior fully and I found myself looking at the surround areas. The museum sits on a sliver of land, on the bow of a hillside, just above a smal harbour. From the museums bistro you get a perfect view.
In this harbour lies a mysterious island, with a villa build at the top. The locals don’t know if the compound is vacant or occupied, or it is even owned by anyone at all. These unanswered questions does not stop fishermen from using its geography to their advantage, casting their reels from the banks of the rock island. This isolated island and the mystery looming over this place intrigued me.
