Parametric Modeling of Urban Landscape: Decoding the Brasilia of Lucio Costa from Modernism to Present Days

A novel parametric modeling approach enables the visualization and analysis of urban volume envelopes, offering a tool to decode modernist urban design principles while addressing contemporary land-use challenges. This methodology, applied to Brasilia's Pilot-Plan—a UNESCO-protected modernist masterpiece—uses City Engine software to simulate maximum authorized construction volumes based on planning legislation. It shifts from rigid authorial design to a dynamic framework that captures collective values and supports adaptive decision-making in urban transformation. The technique is scalable, providing a reusable model for other heritage sites facing urban pressure and cultural preservation needs.

Moura, A. C., Ribeiro, S., Correa, I., & Braga, B. (2014). Parametric Modeling of Urban Landscape: Decoding the Brasilia of Lucio Costa from Modernism to Present Days. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 2014: INPUT 2014 - Smart City: planning for energy, transportation and sustainability of the urban system. https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/2495