On the 16th local time, world-renowned architect Ieoh Ming Pei passed away at his home at the age of 102. In the history of modern architecture, I.M. Pei is known as "the last master of modernism". He always adhered to the modernist style, personifying the architecture while injecting oriental poetry into it.
A design life started by a movie
Ieoh Ming Pei’s ancestral home Suzhou , was born in Guangzhou on April 26, 1917. In the same year, the Bei family bought the famous Suzhou Garden Lion Grove. When I.M. Pei was 10 years old, his family moved to Shanghai where his father worked, and they spent some time at the Suzhou Lion Forest every year.
Pei family portrait (front row, left, I.M. Pei).
Pei was exposed to new architecture, art and lifestyles while attending high school. After graduating from high school, his father wanted him to study economics in England. However, a movie called "College Humor" made him go against his father's wishes. The American university campus architecture and campus customs described in the movie made him keenly interested in architectural design, which eventually changed his choice.
In 1935, at the age of 18, he went to the University of Pennsylvania to study architecture. However, he was quite disappointed with the overly traditional and conservative Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. After only two weeks, he transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study architectural engineering. At the age of 27, he entered the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture for further study.
I.M. Pei and Walter Gropius .
I.M. Pei met two important mentors and helpful friends at Harvard University: Walter Gropius (Walter Gropius) and Marcel Breuer (Marcel Breuer). The former’s Bauhaus educational philosophy and focus on rationality deeply influenced Pei; the latter’s strong interest in light made Pei realize the importance of light in architecture.
As a result, I.M. Pei regarded light as one of the first elements to consider when designing buildings, and thus gained the reputation of "Light Magician" .
Ieoh Ming Pei and his wife Ailing Lo.
The controversial Louvre Past events
Pei is known for his iconic designs. His most famous project is the Louvre Transparent Pyramid designed in 1989, as well as the National Gallery of Art East Building and Kennedy Library in Washington in the 1970s, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong in the 1980s, and the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan in the 1990s. To date, I.M. Pei has more than 70 works.
It is worth mentioning that although its transparent pyramid designed for the Place Napoleon of the Louvre in Paris is now world-famous, it was controversial at the beginning of its design. The project first came from the "Grand Louvre" plan announced by François Mitterrand (Fran.ois Mitterrand) in 1981, and was directly designated by I.M. Pei.
But after I.M. Pei's design was announced, it caused an uproar in France. Parisians were furious that a Chinese architect from New York was allowed to renovate their national treasure hall, thinking that this would "ruin Paris." The draft of the transparent pyramid shape makes people feel like "a pyramid designed for the dead and placed in the dilapidated Louvre". Every day, critics express their displeasure by wearing small round badges that read "Why the Pyramids?"
But Mitterrand's determination was unshakable. He had seen the East Building project of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and firmly believed that Pei could complete the mission well, and gave him unconditional support.
I.M. Pei at the Louvre construction site.
However, another problem was encountered during the construction process: in order not to affect the surrounding historical buildings, transparent and pure white glass must be used; and because multiple surfaces are repeatedly superimposed, the glass pigment will be more obvious, but the supplier is unwilling to invest in research and development experience, and just replied "this is impossible."The discussion was fruitless. A few days later, I.M. Pei quietly took out a piece of white glass made in Germany, which was almost transparent and green-free, and Mitterrand also issued a dead order to the supplier to complete.
989, Louvre pyramid was finally completed. After 30 years of baptism, it has passed all the tests. Like Eiffel Tower , this transparent cone has become one of the symbols of Paris. 9993, because I.M. Pei successfully completed the "Grand Louvre" plan, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor Officer Medal , which is one of the most advanced medals in France. "China's mark never disappears"
After entering the 21st century, I.M. Pei returned to his hometown. In 2006, I.M. Pei's "Closing the Mountain" Suzhou Museum was completed. He combined the architectural wisdom he had accumulated over the years with traditional Eastern aesthetics and his feelings for his hometown into this building, creating a unique and charming visual beauty.
The dark gray stone roof matches the white walls, giving a new interpretation of Jiangnan architecture with pink walls and black tiles. The modern geometric shapes are staggered and integrated with the exquisiteness of traditional Suzhou gardens. The gentle light created by roof wood-grain blinds brings Belle's concept of "designing with light" to the extreme.
But the significance of Suzhou Museum is not only its achievements in architectural aesthetics. For I.M. Pei, designing Suzhou Museum is an important journey in his life, and he was able to re-recognize his hometown with .
I.M. Pei celebrates the opening of the Suzhou Museum.
In addition to the Suzhou Museum, I.M. Pei has also left many other classic designs for the motherland:
Beijing Xiangshan Hotel .
Hong Kong Bank of China Building .
Tonghai University Road Siyi Church in Taiwan.
has been engaged in the construction industry for 70 years. The United States is the starting point of I.M. Pei’s career, and its projects are spread all over the world, including China, the United States, France and Germany. But in the end, the architectural experience and wisdom he has accumulated over the years still have to return to his hometown.
As he said: " For me, the Chinese imprint has never completely disappeared. Now I have lived in the United States for seventy or eighty years, and still feel that I am Chinese. Isn't it strange? I gave myself a new appearance, but everything in my heart has long existed."
Multiple pictures review I.M. Pei's classic work
I.M. Pei has left many beautiful buildings for the world. Let's review it with iWeekly~
Kennedy Library.
I.M. Pei was invited to design the Kennedy Library project. In 1964, Mrs. Kennedy Jacqueline personally visited him and appointed him as the designer.
Boston Hancock Building.
Dallas City Hall.
German History Museum New Wings.
Washington National Gallery East Pavilion.
is located in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Museum of Islamic Art.
Interior view of the Islamic Art Museum. The project was originally conceived by King Kada and his 26-year-old daughter, Princess Sheikha al Mayassa. The museum is built not only for collection and display, but also for reshaping people's memories of the Muslim world once served as a global open and tolerant science and technology cultural center.
Japanese Meixiu Art Museum .
entrance to Japan Meixiu Art Museum.
Interior view of Japan Meixiu Art Museum.
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