Iate Tênis Clube de Pampulha

Niemeyer's modernist yacht club on the Pampulha lake, with a distinctive butterfly roof

The Iate Tênis Clube — the Pampulha yacht and tennis club — is the fourth and least visited of Niemeyer's lakeside buildings. The famous element is the butterfly-shaped concrete roof of the main clubhouse, which appears to hover above the structure on a few thin supports. The building was completed with the rest of the Pampulha set in 1943 and remains in active use as a private sports club.

Casual visitors cannot easily get inside, but the building is visible from the public walking path that runs around the lake, and the roof line is one of the most distinctive views on the circuit. Combine it with the church, the casino, and the Casa do Baile for a complete Pampulha tour.

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