Brazil - Brasilia - architectural sightseeing at weekends/on Mondays?

Hubby's inspiration to become the brilliant architect that he is was a little book which includes Niemeyer's work back in the 1960's. We're stopping over in Brasilia next year to have as good a look as we can.

We arrive (from Portugal) late Friday afternoon. Is the fact that we are there over a weekend likely to interfere with our sightseeing (ie will the places we want to see be open)? How about on Monday?

And how long do you think we need in Brasilia for a good look around?

At the moment, I'm thinking we should fly out on Monday, Tuesday if necessary....

Does anyone know of/can recommend any architectural guided tours?

I found that 2 days was enough and did it myself (most buildings are on one long avenue). Wear trousers/slacks and take your passport if you want to go inside some of them!

It shouldn't take long to see most of these buildings. As mentioned, the Ministries line one street in the very center of the city, including Itamaratyand its reflecting pool, with the National Congress building at the head of the street and the Cathedral to one side. The hotels cluster near the middle of the same central road, near the central TV Tower. (You can go up the tower for the view, and there is a gem museum also inside.) The light in the interior of the Cathedral is lovely, though. There are services on Sunday. Other than that, although I am a passionate fan of architecture, IMO many of the Neimeyer buildings seem dated, unlike those of his mentor Le Corbusier. There are a few other buildings that you could see from a taxi, many of which seem "Soviet style concrete" to my eye.

Here is a map with most of the buildings anyone might want to see, including Neimeyer's:
http://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/brasilia-in-pictures-50-great-buildings-50-years/4553
IMHO, the J.K. Bridge by Alexander Chan is the best piece of architecture in town. Drive over it, an interesting experience, don't just look from afar.

As far as getting an idea of life in the city and its initial poor urban planning (very difficult to get around without a car, no provision made for the poor, the "help", who live quite far) which has become a tad bit better, walk around one of the local SuperQuadros' shopping streets and maybe try one of the restaurants there, go to the lagoa at night to stroll and eat, check out one of the malls, see if the art museum has a decent show or if there is an outdoor exposition of some sort. Maybe take a look at the two huge swimming pools in the Parque Nacional to see how the real folks live.

I am not personally a Neimeyer fan (I find Brasilia rather sterile, and its emphasis on concrete monuments and big block buildings reminds me of East Berlin-- Niemeyer did not choose to live there), but hubby is, which is important. Assuming you can't get to Brasilia, there are a few buildings to see in Rio, with perhaps the most famous Neimeyer-designed building being the modern art museum across the bay in Nitteroi. Looks a bit like a space ship in a 60s sci-fi film. I've been inside just once and there wasn't much to see, but you go for the outside. Take the ferry or bus from Rio and then a taxi to the museum.

Sorry, mistead your post. Duh. I see you are going to Brasilia. If you're paying for a flight all the way to BSB and spending time there (taking time from Rio and other places) so you husband can see the architecture, you are a very good wife. We were there in October so my wife could attend a conference (we're already in Brazil), and took a guided tour on Saturday. Saw the highlights, including a tour of the two houses of Congress and a tour through the Presidential palace (we had to do that on our own by leaving the tour; it was kind of fun, with some of the designs and furnishings reminding me of what was viewed as modern styles in 1960s).

Since you arrive on Friday and will likely want to rest that day, I think you could depart Monday at latest, even Sunday afternoon/evening, and miss little in the city itself. You can look up tours guided tours in advance (e.g., ask the hotel you think you'll stay at) and see what you could visit on a weekend. Architecture and politics will be prime focuses of most tours, I believe. It's not like there are a lot of scenic highlights in the city (though you will stop at the big artificial lake). I'm sure you realize that Brasilia's architecture is not exactly cutting edge in 2012, as noted above by VidaNaPraia. Shopping malls are a big thing in Brasilia, but a nicer place for dinner is along the aforementioned lake, where there are some nice, somewhat upscale, eateries). The airport is not bad until you ge to the central, donut-shaped terminal, which can feel a bit confined. Enjoy your trip.

Sorry, mistead your post. Duh. I see you are going to Brasilia. If you're paying for a flight all the way to BSB and spending time there (taking time from Rio and other places) so you husband can see the architecture, you are a very good wife. We were there in October so my wife could attend a conference (we're already in Brazil), and took a guided tour on Saturday. Saw the highlights, including a tour of the two houses of Congress and a tour through the Presidential palace (we had to do that on our own by leaving the tour; it was kind of fun, with some of the designs and furnishings reminding me of modern architecture of the 1960s). Since you arrive on Friday and will likely want to rest that day, I think you could spend a weekend thee and depart Monday at latest and miss little in the city itself. You can look up tours guided tours in advance (e.g., ask the hotel you think you'll stay at) and see what you could visit on a weekend. Architecture and politics will be prime focuses of most tours, I believe. It's not like there are a lot of scenic highlights in the city (though you will stop at the big lake; and there are some nice restaurants there to visit on your own). I'm sure you realize that Brasilia's architecture is not exactly cutting edge in 2012.

Do read up on Neimeyer, incuding his politics (which I think influenced his architecture, at least in Brasilia), and the history of Brasilia (including J. Kubitschek, whose memorial was the longest stop on our tour).