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    I.M. Pei: Buildings & Philosophy

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    The document discusses the architectural philosophy and legacy of I.M. Pei. Pei believed that form follows intention rather than just function, and sought to create bridges between the present and the past through modern design. It examines some of Pei's most famous projects, including the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland shaped like a record needle, and the Suzhou Museum in China which connects to local traditions. Pei applied this philosophy not just to museums but also to skyscrapers like the John Hancock Building.

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    I.M. Pei: Buildings & Philosophy

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    The document discusses the architectural philosophy and legacy of I.M. Pei. Pei believed that form follows intention rather than just function, and sought to create bridges between the present and the past through modern design. It examines some of Pei's most famous projects, including the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland shaped like a record needle, and the Suzhou Museum in China which connects to local traditions. Pei applied this philosophy not just to museums but also to skyscrapers like the John Hancock Building.

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    Form follows intention

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    The document discusses the architectural philosophy and legacy of I.M. Pei. Pei believed that form follows intention rather than just function, and sought to create bridges between the present and the past through modern design. It examines some of Pei's most famous projects, including the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland shaped like a record needle, and the Suzhou Museum in China which connects to local traditions. Pei applied this philosophy not just to museums but also to skyscrapers like the John Hancock Building.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    175 views4 pages

    I.M. Pei: Buildings & Philosophy

    Uploaded by

    fra
    The document discusses the architectural philosophy and legacy of I.M. Pei. Pei believed that form follows intention rather than just function, and sought to create bridges between the present and the past through modern design. It examines some of Pei's most famous projects, including the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland shaped like a record needle, and the Suzhou Museum in China which connects to local traditions. Pei applied this philosophy not just to museums but also to skyscrapers like the John Hancock Building.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    I.M. Pei: Buildings & Philosophy

    Cite this lesson


    I.M. Pei's unique take on modernism in architecture has informed his prolific work. His projects, from
    museums to skyscrapers, show a belief in the idea that form follows intention and that modernism serves as
    a bridge of present and past.

    I.M Pei: Buildings and Philosophy


    Architecture can reach a level where it influences people to want to do something more with their
    lives. That is the challenge that I find most interesting. - I.M. Pei

    What do NASCAR, fine art, banking, Chinese culture, Washington D.C., and rock & roll have in
    common? The answer is world-renowned architect I.M. Pei. How does Pei develop such a range
    of structures and how does his philosophy guide his design? In this lesson we will travel around
    the world to discover the unique philosophy of I.M. Pei and how it instructs his legendary work.

    Pei's Philosophy
    As a student of Le Corbusier and modernist architecture, I.M. Pei took the core belief of
    modernism that form follows function, and added his own interpretation. Pei believes that
    form follows intention (which incorporates function). His work reflects this philosophy by his
    incorporation of functional symbols into all his great works. I.M. Pei also rejects the
    Internationalist vision of architecture as future vs. past, and instead sees his role as creating a
    bridge between the present and the past. These core beliefs explain how Pei designs a wide
    variety of structures that are all consistent to his vision.

    Museums
    Our first stop is Paris where Pei's famous redesign of the Louvre stands. Originally a royal
    palace, its three wings were physically disconnected from one another. President Mitterrand
    hired Pei to redesign the structure and Pei took on the challenge to design a museum that
    connected the modern world to its heritage. He connected the wings and designed a grand
    entrance to the museum through a glass pyramid. The sleek metal and glass structure is a
    functional symbol that simultaneously fulfills the needs of the Louvre and also symbolizes the
    treasures stored inside with its homage to the Great Pyramid of Giza.

    Louvre Pyramid

    Pei also uses a pyramid-shaped entrance to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This
    structure is very different from the Louvre in terms of how it connects attendees to their
    heritage. The main bulk of the museum is underground, but the upper portions of the museum
    take the form of a record-player needle resting on the water. Not only is the entire structure
    functional, it also uses the record needle to symbolize that the musicians inside still reverberate
    through the contemporary world.

    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    Let's now go to China to see the Suzhou Museum, which looks nothing like the Rock and Roll
    Museum or the Louvre. The Suzhou Museum has a modern feel, with unadorned walls and
    functional design, yet the form of the museum suggests its connection to China's past and the
    principles of Taoism. If you understand Pei's view that form follows intention, then you can see
    how the Suzhou Museum is not a break from Pei's designs, but another seamless expression of
    a modern and international bridge that connects to a local and traditional world.

    Suzhou Museum

    Skyscrapers
    Pei's philosophy did not end with museums, he brought his vision of architecture to his
    skyscrapers. In this section we will examine two skyscrapers that further exemplify his beliefs
    about bridging past and present and the idea that form follows intention.

    John Hancock Building

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