The creator of Brasília, Lúcio Costa, signs the small sketch of a hotel.

• Small sketch of a hotel signed by Lúcio Costa.
• One sheet, transparent tracing paper, black pen.
• No information about date and location.
• 23 cm x +/- 9 cm.
• Excellent condition of conservation.
• Unique piece.

Lúcio Costa was the main urban planner behind the Brasília master plan, having won the national competition for the master plan of the new capital in 1957. His plan defined the general layout of the city, with its iconic plane or cross shape, designed to facilitate traffic flow and the division of residential and administrative areas. Costa conceived Brasília's urban plan in line with the principles of the modernist movement.

His name is associated with that of Oscar Niemeyer, the architect responsible for the design of the main government buildings and monuments of the new capital, such as the National Congress, the Planalto Palace, the Supreme Federal Court and the Cathedral of Brasília. Niemeyer was known for his distinctive style, characterized by curved and abstract forms, and his works in Brasília are considered classic examples of modern architecture.

Using an analogy, Costa defined the body and skeleton of Brasília, while Niemeyer gave life to this body with the skin and details that defined the appearance and identity of the city. Both were essential to the existence of the city as we know it today, and their collaborations reflect a dialogue between urbanism and architecture that characterized the innovative and visionary spirit of the time.

This small sketch of a hotel, signed by Lúcio Costa, is typical of an architect's preliminary drafts. The sketch may be his, but we are not absolutely certain, unlike the signature, which is authentic. We have researched but have not been able to determine which hotel this drawing might correspond to; it may be related to some project in Brasília or elsewhere, possibly part of a preliminary study or a project that was never carried out.

We have two theories: the sketch is his, but he signed it a few hours or days later with a different pen, perhaps as a gift; the sketch is someone else's, perhaps someone on his team, and Costa signed it to approve the idea. We're still looking.

Much of Lúcio Costa’s archives were donated by his family to the Casa da Arquitectura in Portugal in 2021, which took on the responsibility of preserving, studying and eventually exhibiting the collection. Autographs, letters and sketches are very rare on the market.