Minhocão (ICC) — University of Brasília

The Minhocão sits in the heart of the University of Brasília's Darcy Ribeiro campus. This hidden gem was designed by Oscar Niemeyer as a unique pairing of start concrete architectural features and lush green gardens. This pair of covered walkway run the full length of the buildings as a continuous colonnade of concrete columns opening onto a ribbon of planted gardens, palms and flowering beds. The photographic appeal here is the amazing mix of repetition, nature and light. The gentle curve of the building means the rows never create a straight vanishing point, so the columns stack endlessly while blades of light fall between them onto polished floors. Late afternoon is the best time to be here, when low sun spreads under the deck and lights the gardens against the shadowed concrete. Ideally bring a long lens to compress the colonnade and a wide lens to play with the curve against the sky gaps overhead. It's an open, public building, so access is free and easy on foot. But since it is a university campus the space is busiest during the week. So aim for an early morning or weekend if you want it empty. Both the North and South entrances end in Niemeyer's signature cantilevered ramps, which are worth checking out while you are here. (Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil)