Modern Contemporary

Famous Architects
FOREIGN
 FRANK GEHRY
FEBRUARY, 28,1929

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

His deconstructive forms are iconic as tourists flock to October 18 ,1997
all of his buildings worldwide to marvel at the
architectural forms he creates. Named by Vanity Fair
as the most important architect of our age, he has
set the precedence for contemporary architecture.
 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
JUNE 8,1867
Some consider Frank Lloyd Wright to be the
greatest architect of all time. For he thought of
interior & exterior spaces as one and was ahead
of his time in building forms, construction
methods, and never went to a formal
architecture school.
His most notable projects include: The Guggenheim
Museum in New York City, New York, Fallingwater
Residence in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, Arizona State
University Gammage Auditorium & Taliesin West
Wrights home and studio in Scottsdale.
 IEOH MING PEI I.M. PEI
APRIL 26,1917
The Chinese born architect came to study architecture in
the United States as a teenager and later became one of
the greatest architects of modern architecture. Almost 80
years later I.M. Peis work can be seen worldwide and are
noted for their unique use of geometric forms and
incorporating Chinese influences into his work.
His most profound projects include: John F. Kennedy
Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, The National
Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Le Grand Louvre (The
Pyramid) in Paris, The Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong
and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
 ZAHA HADID
OCTOBER 31,1950

The first woman architect who ever won the Pritzker
Architecture prize went to the legendary Zaha Hadid.
Born in Iraq Hadid went on to win this iconic award
which is often termed the Nobel peace prize of
architecture. Hadids forms are characterized as
futuristic, unconventional, daring and artistic.
Her most noted projects are: MAXXI the National
Museum of the 21st Century Arts the Bridge Pavilion in
Zaragoza, Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck, Phaeno
Science Center and the Opera House in Guangzhou.
 PHILIP JOHNSON
JULY 8,1906

Noted as the American architect who founded the Department of His most notable works are the
Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New Seagram Building in New York City,,
York City, Johnsons architectural works are easily identifiable. His Philip-Johnson-House in Berlin,
glass house in Connecticut is one of the most familiar residences Germany, The Museum of Television of
with its minimal interiors and expansive glass vistas were just one Radio & The Crystal Cathedral in
example of his use of the material. California.
 TOM WRIGHT
SEPTEMBER 18, 1957

British architect, Tom Wright is responsible for the

Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Acclaimed for its luxurious
amenities as a hotel and also one of the most
recognizable buildings in modern architecture.
 LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE
MARCH 27,1886

Referred to commonly as Mies, the German-

His most notable projects include Barcelona
American architect. Mies was known for his minimalist
Pavilion, in Barcelona, Spain, New National
and less is more approach to architecture and his
Gallery in Berlin, Germany, Seagram Building in
forward thinking of using plate glass and structural
New York City and Crown Hall in Chicago, Illinois.
steel to divide interior spaces is one of his most
notable characteristics in architecture.
 RENZO PIANO
SEPTEMBER 14, 1937

Pianos most notable projects include: The newly

The Italian born architect was named one of Time
opened Shard in London, England, NEMO
magazines top 100 most influential people in 2008.
Science Center in Amsterdam, The New York
Piano who is an Italian Pritzker prize-winning
Times building in New York, and Kansai
architect has been instrumental in shaping modern
International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
architecture that stands on its own in recognition.
 RENZO PIANO
SEPTEMBER 14, 1937

Pianos most notable projects include: The newly

The Italian born architect was named one of Time
opened Shard in London, England, NEMO
magazines top 100 most influential people in 2008.
Science Center in Amsterdam, The New York
Piano who is an Italian Pritzker prize-winning
Times building in New York, and Kansai
architect has been instrumental in shaping modern
International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
architecture that stands on its own in recognition.
 JEAN NOUVEL
AUGUST 12, 1945

Nouvel is a French born architect who has won Nouvels projects of note include: Arab World
numerous prestigious awards and honors over the Institute in Paris, Denstu Building in Tokyo, Ziaty
years for his projects, including the Prtizker Prize in Andel in Prague, and Gasometer A in Vienna and
2008. Les Grandes Tables of Seguin Island in Paris.
 CESAR PELLI
1926
Argentine architect Cesar Pelli was born in 1926. He studied
architecture at the University of Tucmn, before a scholarship
led him to the University of Illinois School of Architecture.
After school, Pelli worked at the firm of Eero Saarinen and
Associates. Pelli was with the firm for 10 years, later citing
Saarinen and Corbusier as major influences in his work.
Pellis most notable work includes
the World Financial Center in NYC,
Circa Center in Philadelphia, and
the Petronas Twin Towers (with
Mahathir Mohamad).
 LE CORBUSIER

A pioneer of modern architecture, Le Corbusiers career spanned A few that embody his
five decades and numerous continents. Corbusier theorized five style are the Esprit
points that supported his modernist style of architecture: pilotis, free Nouveau Pavilion in Paris,
faade, open floor plan, unencumbered views, and roof garden. chapel of Notre Dame du
Many of Corbusiers designs were airy and open, connecting the Haut in Ronchamp, and
visitor to nature and creating a bridge between the structure and Villa Savoye near Paris.
the outside world.
 ALVAR AALTO
Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer working in
furniture, textiles, and glassware. Unlike most architects, his
style was very transitional, from Nordic Classicism to pure
modernism to organic modernism.
Throughout his career, Aalto designed a
wide range of work from civic planning to
paintingdesigning over 500 buildings
(including Finlandia Hall and the Paimio
Sanatorium, both in Finland) spanning five
countries, and won the AIA Gold Medal
for architecture.
 LOUIS SULLIVAN

Sullivans most famous works were

Louis Sullivan is considered to be the creator of the modern the National Farmers Bank of
skyscraper and the father of modernism. He was the Owatonna, Merchants National
mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright and an influential figure to the Bank, and Peoples Federal Savings
Chicago group of architects that came to be known as the and Loan. In 1944, he won the AIA
Prairie School. Born in Boston in 1856. Gold Medal.
 OSCAR NIEMEYER

Oscar Niemeyer is a Brazilian architect specializing in Some of Niemeyers most famous works
modern architecture. He was instrumental in reshaping include the Contemporary Art Museum in
Brazils identity in popular culture and in the field of Rio de Janerio, Natal City Park, and the
architecture. In addition to making important contributions Ravello Auditorium.
to his country, he was also a pioneer in the use of
reinforced concrete used solely for aesthetic impact.
 DAVID CHILDS
David Magie Childs (born on April 1, 1941 in
Princeton, New Jersey) is an American Architect and
chairman emeritus of the architectural firm Skidmore,
Owings & Merrill. He is best known for his
controversial redesign of the new One World Trade
Centre in New York City.
His major projects include: the Four Seasons
Hotel, the U.S. News and World Report
headquarters, the headquarters for National
Geographic, Worldwide Plaza, 450 Lexington
Avenue, Bertelsmann Tower and One World
Trade Centre
FILIPINO
 Leandro Locsin (1928-1994) was in some ways a quintessential
Renaissance man. A brilliant architect, interior designer, artist, and
LEANDRO LOCSIN classically trained pianist, Locsin was also a keen art collector,
amassing a sizable collection of fine Chinese art and ceramics
during his lifetime. It is for his buildings, however, that he is
remembered. From airport terminals to memorial chapels, arts
centers to stock exchange structures, Locsin left his mark on the
urban landscape of the Philippines.
 ILDEFONSO P SANTOS

The father of Philippine landscape architecture, Ildefonso Paez Santos, or IP Santos as he was
known, created some of the best-loved urban spaces in the Philippines. Landscape architecture,
which deals with parks, plazas, and green spaces, was a little-considered element of urban
planning in the first half of the 20th century. However, Santos changed that, carrying out
pioneering work that, after four decades in the profession, led him to become National Artist for
Architecture in 2006.
 PABLO ANTONIO

One of the first exponents of modernist architecture in the Philippines, Pablo Antonio (1901-1975) is revered
as a pioneer and the foremost architect of his time. Antonio was acutely aware of the demands made on
architecture by the unforgiving Philippine climate. Buildings such as the Galaxy Theatre, the Far Eastern
University, and the Manila Polo Club display practical innovations such as natural ventilation systems and
sunscreens, all of which are rendered in Antonios signature style: clean lines, strong shapes, and
simplicity. As Antonios son Pablo Jr explains, for our father, every line must have a meaning, a purpose.
For him, function comes first before elegance and form.
 The son of veterans of the Philippine Revolution, Juan Nakpil
(18991986) was committed to the belief that architecture built
in the Philippines should reflect its culture and people. When he
JUAN NAKPIL returned to Manila in the mid-1920s, Nakpil applied his new-
found knowledge to Filipino structures. He worked on the
restoration of the home of national hero Jose Rizal and, like
Locsin, took inspiration from traditional stilt houses, remaking
them in cantilevered concrete on a mammoth scale.

Nakpil worked on dozens of buildings across the nation, from the Manila Jockey Club
and the Quiapo Church, to the Mabini Shrine and government departments.
 Francisco Bobby Maosa has been challenging
architectural convention in his native country for five
FRANCISCO MAOSA decades. He displayed an artistic temperament from an
early age and remained a keen painter throughout his
life. Along with his three brothers, Maosa eventually
chose to pursue architecture, and before long became
the outspoken champion of indigenous architecture,
thus popularizing the idea of Philippine architecture for
Filipinos.

Maosas distinctive style, known as Contemporary Tropical

Filipino Architecture, is a heady mixture of seemingly
incongruous elements. Coconut lumber, rattan, shell, thatch,
and even indigenous textiles are juxtaposed with hypermodern
materials: metal, glass, concrete. The Coconut Palace at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines complex typifies Manosas
style. Its coconut gourd roof, coconut shell chandelier, and
pineapple fiber bedcovers are infused with technological
innovation for the modern era. In 2009 Maosa was designated
a National Artist in Architecture.
FRANCISCO MAOSA

The Coconut Palace at the Cultural Center of the

Philippines