Between the 1950s and 1960s, two cities were built that would leave a lasting mark on the history of architecture and urbanism. Born of the same concept, yet separated by more than 14,000 kilometers, Brasília, in Brazil, and Chandigarh, in India—both steeped in modernist principles—were planned and built from scratch.
Emerging in a context of profound political and social transformations, where several countries sought to reshape their capitals as symbols of progress, both cities took on a strategic role. Through their chosen architectural language, they reaffirmed ideological and identity narratives linked to state power.
These were cities created in the abstract, guided by a utopian vision. They were conceived as avant-garde cities, free from the issues plaguing mid-twentieth-century urban centers, exemplifying aesthetic principles that reflected progressive political ideologies while embracing new technologies—most notably, the automobile.
Ultimately, however, this promise of the future brought major challenges. These difficulties certainly reflect the social and economic struggles of their respective countries, but they could also be said to be "seasoned" by a modernist idea that is now being called into question.
