This South American City Becomes the Architecture Capital of the World

The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is now the World Capital of Architecture by 2020, thanks to UNESCO. It is the first time the group ever gave a distinction as important as this. In a press release they posted on their website, Rio will be the center for debates on the perspectives of cultural heritage, culture, architecture and urban planning. It will also be the host for the World Congress of Architects which happens every three years.

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The city breeds an exciting mixture of historical and cutting edge architecture. From places like the Santiago Calatrava’s Museum of tomorrow, Parque Lage, Old Cathedral, Oscar Niemeyer’s Niteroi Museum of Contemporary Art and Christian de Portzamparc’s Cidade das Artes is a testament of its diversity in structure and design.

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The Niteroi Museum is probably the best building to represent the Rio’s innovative capabilities. With it’s bright red and distinctive saucer-shaped walkway resembling a UFO and a cliff-side location, it tops the list of must-see places for travelers around the globe. Today, the structure has hosted major events like fashion shows for luxury brands like Luis Vuitton which made it more prominent in the eyes of the world.

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Rio De Janeiro produced not only great buildings but also builders like world-renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, one of the fathers of the 20th-century modernism. The city is truly a gift to the world and a deserving recipient of UNESCO’s World Capital of Architecture.

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I The famous 'HOLLYWOOD' sign was originally the far more awkward 'HOLLYWOODLAND.' Thomas Fisk Goff, the owner of Crescent Sign Company, designed the towering letters, making each one about 50 feet tall with a width of 30 feet. About 4,000 20-watt light bulbs were used to flash the words "HOLLY," "WOOD," and "LAND" one after the other, and then "HOLLYWOODLAND." The cost to put up the sign back then was about $21,000.

II The "LAND" was dropped from "HOLLYWOODLAND" back in the 1940s after an attempt to fix the deteriorated sign was abandoned. It was the 1930s, and the Great Depression meant the Hollywoodland real estate group didn't have the funds on hand to fix the dilapidated sign. Instead, the lights were removed as the Parks Department didn't want to pay for changing light bulbs, nor for the electricity.

III The first fictional character to be placed on Hollywood Boulevard's walk of fame was Mickey Mouse. He was given a star on November 13, 1978. Other fictional characters also on the walk of fame include Bugs Bunny, Snow White, Woody Woodpecker, Big Bird, The Simpsons, Rugrats, Kermit the Frog, and many more.

IV The Hollywood sign has been tampered with several times over the years. Some known alterations include the following: HOLLYWeeD (1976), HOLYWOOD (April 1977 and September 1987), GO NAVY (1983), RAFFEYSOD (1985), FOX (April 1987), CALTECH (May 1987), OLLYWOOD (1987), HOLLI WOULD (1992), PEROTWOOD (1992)

V On January 1, 1976, a prankster changed the iconic Los Angeles Hollywood sign to "HOLLYWeeD." Cal State Northridge art student Daniel Finegood and a couple of his friends hung curtains on the sign to achieve the stunt. His mischievous act earned him an A for his class assignment on working with scale.

VI The Hollywood Stars are a top-rated tourist destination. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's volunteer president, E.M. Stuart, first conceptualized the idea for the famous Hollywood walk of fame back in 1953. Many fans show respect to the names on the walk (both living and dead) by laying flowers or symbolic tributes at their stars.

This South American City Becomes the Architecture Capital of the World

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