Introduction
“Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society” (Pei, 1983, as cited in Blakemore, 2019).
Ieoh Ming Pei uttered these words during his acceptance speech upon receiving the Pritzker Prize. He was chosen as the 1983 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize for his commendable works of art, such as the Mile High Center in Denver and the Fragrant Hill Hotel in Beijing (Craven, 2019). Pei’s words signified his love for design, which is what motivated him to come up with the best.
The purpose of the prize was to honor living architects for their unique work that demonstrated qualities of vision, commitment, and talent. Pei loved art and nature and was always focused on whatever design he made. He aimed to bring out the best in society and contribute to something of indefinite benefit. Ieoh Ming Pei was one of the most accomplished architects of the twentieth century; born as an Asian American, he acquired a significant education and developed outstanding infrastructural designs.
Early Life
Architect Ieoh Ming Pei was one of the most advanced designers of his time. He was born in Canton, China, to Tsuyee Pei and Lien Kwun, a financier and banker at the Bank of China, on April 26, 1917. He grew up as a privileged kid, as his parents were wealthy. Pei emigrated to America in 1935, where he was to acquire higher learning (Craven, 2019). Ming was to study at the University of Pennsylvania but changed his mind after attending for only two weeks. Pei decided to join the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he graduated in 1940 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture (Craven, 2019).
Ieoh Pei found work in Boston and traveled around America for projects. He later met Eileen Loo while in Boston, and they began dating and married in 1942 (Craven, 2019). Pei won a special scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (Craven, 2019). That marked the beginning of his career, as he had acquired vast knowledge and expertise.
Beginning of Career
Influence From Others
Ieoh Ming Pei had a unique architectural philosophy influenced by some of his mentors. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the classical Beaux-Arts style was typical among distinguished architectural schools and architects (Guimapang, 2019). Pei disapproved of this style, citing it as old-fashioned.
He admired Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect who influenced him to be the artist he was. He even modified Le Corbusier’s philosophy, which stated ‘form follows function’ to his own, ‘form follows intention,’ which meant that structures needed to be practical and meaningful in their design (Guimapang, 2019). Pei regarded the two days Le Corbusier visited MIT as the most impactful days in his architectural education. Pei studied under Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer at Harvard and looked up to them as two of the foremost architects of modern times (Guimapang, 2019). After his exposure to renowned designers, Pei finally graduated with vast expertise.
Career Journey
Ming started his architectural career after attaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He joined a New York City firm named Webb and Knapp and was the director of architecture. One of his first projects was designing the company’s dining room and roof garden, which offered a great view of the city’s skyline (Craven, 2019).The firm kick-started his career by enabling him to participate in large-scale development projects across America. Through his experience designing new structures near older buildings, he developed his sensitivity to the relationship between a building and the environment.
After working for the New York-based firm for seven years, Pei launched his architectural firm in 1955, naming it I. M. Pei & Associates. The firm developed and changed its name to Pei Cobb Freed & Partners (Craven, 2019). Throughout his career, he experienced shortcomings that he eventually overcame and became the renowned designer he was even after his death.
Challenges Faced
I. M. Pei’s family was wealthy, but this did not prevent him from experiencing some challenges. He could not be an American despite staying and studying in the United States for more than seven years until the law changed in 1943 (Blakemore, 2019). World War II made it impossible for him to return home to Shanghai (Blakemore, 2019). As a result, he had to stay back in America, where he developed his career further, as he had all the time.
Pei faced some struggles in his early career, which required fixing the John Hancock Tower with design issues. He was also criticized for the glass pyramid design in the courtyard of the Louvre (Guimapang, 2019). He received critiques from the public, who did not acknowledge this architectural design. The shortcomings made him efficient as he thought of possible solutions and how to improve his plans.
Significant Accomplishments
Noteworthy Architectural Designs
Mr. Pei began his career as a junior designer under a New York firm but later developed into an outstanding designer, producing great plans. He made his name after winning the commission to design the John Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 1963. That same year, he designed the Luce Memorial Chapel in Taiwan (Guimapang, 2019). Pei went on to plan the entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar, and the East Building of the National Gallery in Washington District of Columbia, D.C., thus building his reputation (Craven, 2019).
In 1968, he designed the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University in Ithaca (Craven, 2019). His plan contributed to the cultural life of the surrounding society and also functioned for the University as it incorporated a teaching facility and a museum. Pei went on to design other structures, such as the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, the Miho Museum in Japan, and the Suzhou Museum (Guimapang, 2019). The achievements have had a long-lasting impact on the communities in which they were built.
Impact of Ieoh Ming Pei’s Designs
Architecture has represented society, eventual success, downfall, and modernization values over time. The architectural designs by I. M. Pei were an actual representation of the culture in which the existing buildings were constructed—the plans in France. Japan, China, Qatar, and America differed due to the differences in the environment. His Louvre design won the American Institute of Architects’ prestigious Twenty-five Year Award in 2019, for it stood the test of time (Craven, 2019).
The John Hancock Tower is now regarded as Boston’s finest modern skyscraper. Some of Pei’s work, such as the Kennedy Library, is still considered one of the most impactful plans of his life, as it serves as a memorial for the late President Kennedy. As a modernist architect, Pei designed some of the most iconic buildings and extensions globally, as he could blend cultures.
Influence on Change
Most of Pei’s designs in America and around the globe are still standing to this day, with only a few modifications made to enhance their aesthetics. Without his expertise, many buildings we now see, such as the New York City Convention Center and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, would not exist. Mr. Pei believed in his doctrine that ‘form follows intention,’ which guided his development (Guimapang, 2019). His designs reflected this ideology through the incorporation of logical symbols in all his plans (Blakemore, 2019).
Pei’s works are instantly recognizable through his signature geometric pattern style. The projects are aesthetically appealing and are considered tourist attractions where many people visit and appreciate the design, such as the Miho Museum in Japan. Ieoh Ming Pei revolutionized architecture by creating appealing designs that fit their respective environments, as they had some aspects of culture.
Conclusion
Ieoh Ming Pei was an Asian American architect renowned for his unique designs in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. He was born and raised in China but acquired his higher education in America, where he lived for forty years. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and architecture after completing his studies at MIT and Harvard.
Pei began his career at the Webb and Knapp firm before establishing his own company. Some of the challenges he faced included critiques from the public, who did not acknowledge some of his work, specifically the glass pyramid outside the Louvre in Paris. Throughout his career, Mr. Pei developed many designs in America, Europe, and Asia. His most accomplished task was designing the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in memory of the late President. His works still positively impact society, and the unique styles he used in drawing influenced change.
References
Blakemore, E. (2019). I.M. Pei Dies at 102 Years Old. Here Are Some of His Essential Buildings. Smithsonian Magazine. Web.
Craven, J. (2019). Rock and Rolling with I. M. Pei. ThoughtCo. Web.
Guimapang, K. (2019). Shaping an architectural legend: what inspired I.M. Pei? Archinect. Web.