Legendary Architect Oscar Niemeyer Dies Just Days Before Turning 105

Famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer died on Wednesday just days before celebrating his 105th birthday. Hospital staff reported that the man who catapulted Brazil onto the international design scene with his sweeping, fluid architecture succumbed to a respiratory infection in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rio-de-janeiro/">Rio de Janeiro</a>. Niemeyer embraced and then perfected Modernism with the Ministry of Education and Public Health building in Rio, which he worked on with famed Swiss architect <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/le-corbusier/">Le Corbusier</a> in 1936, and he later designed the main government buildings of the capital Brasília, firmly securing his status as one of the world's most important architects. Despite being barred from working in the U.S. because of his leftist political leanings, Niemeyer was formally recognized in 1988 when he received the coveted <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/pritzker-prize/">Pritzker Prize</a>.

Oscar Niemeyer catapulted Brazil to international acclaim with his design for numerous government buildings in the capital Brasilia.

His signature style includes curves, bold color and "form that follows beauty"

Niemeyer continued to work - right up until the end. He was 10 days shy of 105!

The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum is one of his finest works

Niemeyer received the Pritzker Prize for his work in 1988

The President of Brazil remarked that the country has lost one of its geniuses, and we couldn't agree more.