after graduating as an engineering architect in 1943, he started working in architecture studios - he attained international renown for his plan of the city of brasilia, which gained him a place in the group of architects who designed the united nations headquarters and also designed the contemporary art museum in niterói. in a career spanning over 78 years, he worked on 600 projects and sadly, niemeyer died in rio de janeiro on december 5, 2012, at age 104.