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“INTERNATIONAL AND MODERN ARCHITECTURE”

03 / 15 / 22

03 / 21 / 22

03/ 21 / 22

https://www.bocadolobo.com/blog/architecture/greatest-modern-architects-need-know/

https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/decoration-design-ideas/iconic-legends-the-greatest-
modern-architects-of-our-time/
 There is no mistaking Gehry’s works, as they
are the most distinctive, and innovative
architectural phenomena around. His
deconstructive forms are iconic as tourists
flock to 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. His ability to
create spaces that manipulate forms and
surfaces is his most notable feats and we all
love his unique uses of materials that almost
defy all logic in how they work together.
ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (October 18, 1997,
Bilbao, Spain) -The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and
contemporary art. A monument to modernism, the unique architecture of the space,
with its spiral ramp riding to a domed skylight, continues to thrill visitors and provide a
unique forum for the presentation of contemporary art.

Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

(October 18, 1997, Bilbao, Spain)
 (June 8, 1867 – April 19, 1959) Frank Lloyd Wright was
born in Richland Center, Wis., on June 8, 1867, the
son of William Carey Wright, a preacher and a
musician, and Anna Lloyd Jones, a teacher whose
large Welsh family had settled the valley area near
Spring Green, Wisconsin. 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 organic and natural
forms that seemed to become one with nature and his innovative detailing are still
considered to be the best building and design concepts, even after nearly 150 years.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: Fallingwater Residence in Mill Run (1939) -The
epitome of “organic architecture,” Fallingwater's design symbolizes the harmony
between people and nature. Through thoughtful design that is seamlessly integrated
with its natural setting, the building, its furnishings, and the surroundings become
cohesive parts of one unified, interrelated composition.

FALLING WATER
Residence in Mill Run (1939)
 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. Pei’s work can be seen
worldwide and are noted for their unique use
of geometric forms and incorporating Chinese
influences into his work. His National Center for
Atmospheric Research in Colorado embodies
Pei’s iconic geometric forms and unity with
natural elements in their surroundings. Pei’s
work graces some of the most prestigious
government and acclaimed sites throughout
the world.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: Le Grand Louvre (The Pyramid) in Paris (1989) -It was
built to increase the area of the entrance to the museum to facilitate easier entry for
the visitors. It is now the main and largest entrance to the museum. The Louvre
Pyramid is a large glass and metal structure .The pyramid is in the main courtyard of
the Louvre Palace in Paris, surrounded by three smaller pyramids. The large pyramid
serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum.

Le Grand Louvre (The Pyramid)

in Paris (1989)
 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’. Hadid’s
forms are characterized as futuristic,
unconventional, daring and artistic. Many of her
projects were never built and she still was ranked
on Forbes list at 69th most powerful women in
2008.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECT: MAXXI NATIONAL MUSEUM (2010) -MAXXI is a national
museum of contemporary art and architecture in the Flaminio neighborhood of
Rome, Italy. The vertical blades of the roof and vertical columns are composed of
steel and the glass roof is wrapped with a steel mesh that filters sunlight, providing
natural lighting to the building.

MAXXI NATIONAL MUSEUM

(2010)
 Noted as the American architect who
founded the Department of
Architecture and Design at the Museum
of Modern Art in New York City,
Johnson’s architectural works are easily
identifiable. His glass house in
Connecticut is one of the most familiar
residences with its minimal interiors and expansive glass vistas were just one example
of his use of the material. His amazing use of glass, steel and later crystal became his
world-renowned fame. The Crystal Cathedral in California looks as though it should
be in a child’s fairytale book it is the epitome of forward-thinking architecture that
characterized Johnson’s Minimalism and Pop-Art styles.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: The Crystal Cathedral (1981) -The Crystal Cathedral
is a church building in Garden Grove, Orange County, California, in the United States.
The facade is composed of more than 10,000 glass panels affixed to a framework of
steel trusses. The panes are single-glazed and held in place by structural silicone,
reducing the visual prominence of the joints. Johnson and Burgee developed the
angular, star-shaped plan to enliven the monolithic, monochromatic volume.

The Crystal Cathedral

(1981)
 Is it possible to become one of the greatest
modern architects of our time if you are only
noted for one building? When the building is the
most recognizable hotel in Dubai, yes. 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.
Noted with the world’s tallest atrium, and
equipped with its own helicopter landing pad
and tallest tennis court at the top, Tom Wright definitely deserves to join the list of
great modern architects.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab (1999) -Known for the
audacity of the design, the unrestrained luxury of its suites, its height and many other
aspects, the Burj Al Arab is undoubtedly one of the most desirable hotels in the world.
Intriguing not only for its architecture, this Dubai hotel was hailed as the tallest hotel
in the world at the time of its inauguration. The interiors are gilded in 24-carat gold.The
outermost part of the building was constructed with a steel exoskeleton, a network
of large beams that gives robust protection against the strong winds that frequently
blow along this coastline.

7-star hotel Burj Al Arab

(1999)
 Referred to commonly as “Mies”, the German-
American architect is termed one of the
pioneers of modern architecture along with Le
Corbusier and Walter Gropius. Mies was known
for his minimalist and “less is more” approach to
architecture and his forward thinking of using
plate glass and structural steel to divide interior
spaces is one of his most notable characteristics
in architecture. His innovative open floor plan concepts were first thought of by Van
der Rohe and many of his interior concepts & furniture styles are widely used in
today’s architecture and interiors.
ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: Barcelona Pavilion (Demolished: 1930-rebuilt in 1986)
-It is an important building in the history of modern architecture, known for its simple
form and its spectacular use of extravagant materials, such as marble, red onyx and
travertine. The same features of minimalism and spectacular can be applied to the
furniture specifically designed for the building.

Barcelona Pavilion
(Demolished: 1930-rebuilt in 1986)
 The Italian born architect was named one of
Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people
in 2008. Piano who is an Italian Pritzker prize-
winning architect has been instrumental in
shaping modern architecture that stands on its
own in recognition. The Shard – Europe’s tallest
skyscraper in London has faced much
controversy in its construction, but many feel it
has given London a way to join the 21stcentury.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: The New York Times Building (November 19, 2007) -
The 52-story glass and steel structure reinforce the values of the Times Company and
its culture of transparency. The building’s basic shape is simple and primary, similarly
to the Manhattan grid. It is slender, and does not use mirrored or tinted glass which
render towers mysterious and hermetic subjects. On the contrary, the use of double
skin curtain wall with 186,000 ceramic rods that act as a sunscreen deflecting the
heat and an inner wall of floor to ceiling water-white glass allows the building to
adapt to the colours of the atmosphere. Blueish after a shower, shimmering red after
a sunset.

The New York Times Building

Building (November 19, 2007)
 Nouvel is a French born architect who has
won numerous prestigious awards and
honors over the years for his projects,
including the Prtizker Prize in 2008. Nouvel’s
most acclaimed fame came from winning
the design competition for the Arab World
Institute in Paris that brought him
international fame. Mechanical lenses in
the south wall open & shut automatically
and are reminiscent of Arabic latticework.
The devices control interior lighting
automatically from exterior light levels. Nouvel’s work is known worldwide and his use
of innovative architectural concepts set him apart from many modern architects
today.
ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECTS: Arab World Institute in Paris (30 November 1987) -
Owing to its architectural quality and the richness of its interiors, the Arab World
Institute is one of the most prestigious Parisian monuments. The structural system used
in its construction is coated with a curtain wall of glass and aluminum metal skeleton.
The building has two faces and two bodies, on the north side, facing the river, the
building is covered with glass in which clear images of the city on the other side are
taxed.

Arab World Institute in Paris

(30 November 1987)
 Safdie is another product of Louis Kahn’s
apprenticeship that led to his remarkable
modern architecture career. Originally from
Haifa, Safdie is known for his 1967
International & Universal Exposition – Expo
67, which was Canada’s main celebration
during its centennial year, and was
deemed a remarkable cultural
achievement. Safdie has been awarded
much recognition of which the Gold Medal,
from the Royal Architectural Institute of
Canada.

ONE OF HIS NOTABLE PROJECT: National Gallery (May 21, 1988) -The National Gallery
of Canada makes its home in a grand, light-filled structure of glass and granite, in
which visitors can find stunning exhibition spaces, a garden court, a reconstructed
chapel and more. Built to display and store the country's finest collection of art, the
National Gallery of Canada comprises 132,700 square feet of galleries, together with
facilities for educational programs, conservation, art storage, and administration.

National Gallery
(May 21, 1988)
 personal understanding
From this activity Architects have shown significant improvement in their work during
the past few years around the world. Each architect uses a different design process.
They are pushing the boundaries of physics and imagination to create creative
structures ranging from skyscraper buildings with gravity-defying designs to
innovative eco-friendly houses. Materials must also be carefully chosen as they will
represent the project's purpose. Locally sourced materials are far more efficient at
reducing carbon footprints and also provide context to a building. A work of
architecture's significance is determined in part by how well it fulfills its program and
occupants. While this is true of any genre, religious architecture is unquestionably one
of the most meaningful and experiential kinds of architecture, owing to its ambitious
program. To be sure, religion has been one of the most consistent drivers in the
construction of great works of architecture and creative advances in the discipline
throughout history. Architects are naturally curious in how they would create them in
reality, and even if they don't, they still take bits and pieces that can be adapted to
other projects. The process and execution of successful architecture play a
significant role. In principle, you can have all the proper creative and functional
parts, but it has to work well together. Unlike most visual arts, architecture is a
collaborative effort. The architect must collaborate with the client to conceive and
develop the best solution, which must then be well documented before being built
by a contractor with proper coordination. You can't develop something useful unless
you have a thorough understanding of the background. The context is critical, but
the true context is not always obvious it is sometimes forgotten and hardly visible a
location's history and traditions.