Consequences of the "Plano Piloto": The Urban Development and Land Markets of Brasília

• Published in: Urban studies (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 44; no. 10; pp. 1871 - 1887
• Main Authors: Dowall, David E., Monkkonen, Paavo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Routledge Journal, Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.09.2007; SAGE Publications; Longman Group; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: 20th century; Bgi / Prodig; Cities; Development policy; Distrito Federal; Downtowns; Housing; Housing costs; Housing prices; Human geography; Land; Land development; Land market; Land use; Marketing; Markets; Metropolitan areas; Modernism; Modernization; Population density; Population growth; Quality of life; Real estate; Residents; Spatial analysis; Spatial distribution; The city. Urban growth and morphology; Transport costs; Transportation; Urban areas; Urban development; Urban geography; Urban planning; Urban policy; Urban populations; Urban sociology; Urban studies; Urbanization; Brazil; Brasilia; Brasilia Brazil; Brazil, Distrito Federal, Brasilia; Urban change; Urban development; Urbanization; Urban area; Urban density; Housing; Land use; Land; Land value
• ISSN: 0042-0980; 1360-063X
• DOI: 10.1080/00420980701560018

Much has been written about what is perhaps the largest and most important city built entirely in the 20th century. By some, Brasília is seen as the epitome of modernism's failure and, by others, simply an example of an overregulated city unable to cope with rapid urbanisation and population growth. This paper argues that Brasília is not a typical case. The spatial structure of the metropolitan region of Brasília is completely different from comparable regions in Brazil and its land market exhibits several distinct patterns. Furthermore, it is argued that the region's unique origin and restrictive urban land development policies have led to the current sprawling form of the region. It is concluded that the urban form of Brasília is detrimental to the quality of life of its residents as it leads to higher housing and transport costs.