What Retirement? 101 year-old Architect is back on the job

By Jason Segarra on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 22:13

On the Simpsons, much fun is had at the expense of Mr. Charles Montgomery Burns, the 104-year-old owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and his difficulties participating in the daily rituals of modern life. Now a world renowned architect is attempting to show that centenarian people are just as productive as anyone else, as 101-year-old Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer has announced his return to design.

Taking a brief hiatus to recover from surgery that removed several gallstones and an intestinal tumor, Niemeyer will begin working on a collection of buildings in Niteroi, a suburb of Rio De Janeiro, according to the Associated Press.

Niemeyer is considered one of the most important modern architects whose contributions include the UNesco World Heritage city of Brasilia, Rio''s Sambadrome and the United Nations building in New York.

"I needed to keep busy," Niemayer tells the international press on his recovery and return to design, "keep in touch with friends, maintain my rhythm of life."