Cathedral of Brasília, northwest elevation

The Cathedral of Brasília is constructed on a circular plan, with 16 piers forming its hyperboloid structure, which rises 40 meters. The floor level itself is subterranean. The church has no ground-level access; the interior is accessed by a ramp that leads to the underground entrance. The design of the cathedral was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1988, in recognition of its singular architectural merit, to its designer, architect Oscar Niemeyer.