Much has been written about what is perhaps the largest and most important city built entirely in the 20th century. By some, Brasília is seen as the epitome of modernism's failure and, by others, simply an example of an overregulated city unable to cope with rapid urbanisation and population growth. This paper argues that Brasília is not a typical case. The spatial structure of the metropolitan region of Brasília is completely different from comparable regions in Brazil and its land market exhibits several distinct patterns. Furthermore, it is argued that the region's unique origin and restrictive urban land development policies have led to the current sprawling form of the region. It is concluded that the urban form of Brasília is detrimental to the quality of life of its residents as it leads to higher housing and transport costs.
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