The evolution of Brasília spatial structure from 1975 to 2015

Planned cities remain underexplored in the empirical literature on urban spatial structure, particularly from a long-term perspective using high-resolution data. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing how a highly regulated, purpose-built capital has evolved, offering a contrast to the trajectories of organically developed cities. Brasília, built from scratch in 1960 and now the fourth-largest urban agglomeration in Brazil, serves as a compelling case. Using satellite data from the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) at a 1 ​km ​× ​1 ​km resolution, we describe the evolution of the urban structure of Brasília from 1975 to 2015. Population density and built-up gradients are positive, increasing with distance from the city center, and have steepened over time. This reflects faster growth at the urban fringe, the emergence of high-density clusters in suburban areas, and stable, low occupancy in the city center. Finally, we also show that Brasília's unique pattern of urban land use contrasts with other Brazilian urban agglomerations, marked by low density in the center and high levels of urban sprawl. • This paper examines the evolution of Brasília's spatial structure from 1975 to 2015 utilizing recent grid-level satellite data. • Contrary to the urban monocentric model, Brasília’s population and urbanized area grow farther from the city center. • Between 1975 and 2015, Brasília’s center grew stably, while its outskirts and suburbs experienced rapid expansion. • Planned cities like Brasília face major challenges adapting to and accommodating population growth over time.