I live in a townhome that is attributed to Pei and Harry Weese (most assume they are mostly a Weese design) and while I love it’s brutalist nature, the aesthetic is very controversial, you love it or hate it.<p>But what amazes me is 2 things. First they are very livable. They would be considered tiny now in the US (sub 900 sq ft originally, with finished basement 1300), but it never feels cramped. The design and size lead to extremely efficient resource utilization and minimal maintenance as well.<p>Second, this place was targeted at middle income families. It was designed to compete with the suburbs being built at the time. Can you imagine a builder now paying for innovative design?<p>In any case I wish more people could live the lifestyle this home allows.
I.M. Pei's architecture is beautiful, geodesic structure in the best possible sense. 102 is also a ripe old age (although far be it from me to say what is a fair time on this earth).<p>Architecture is wonderful as you get to live on through these incredibly beautiful buildings. I look at the stuff Zaha Hadid built and I feel like I can almost see her in the buildings she made. Great architects resonate through their structures.<p>RIP.
The Louvre pyramid itself is a beautiful structure and it is certainly a sight to see.<p>That being said, its placement in a courtyard surrounded by strikingly beautiful and unique French Renaissance architecture is a testament to modern arrogance. It does not complement the theme or contribute to the panorama, but instead steals the view and obscures the art already there. It was highly controversial and divided Parisians against each other. Clearly the man had talent, but it's a little disgusting how proud of where it was placed.
I know him through the buildings he designed at MIT: Buildings 54, 66, and E15. My favorite fun fact to tell visitors is that building 66 (chemical engineering) is a perfect 30-60-90 triangle.
If you want to see the most impressive candidate for an IRL Bond villain HQ, I nominate Mr. Pei's Miho Museum [0]. The art is pretty good for a private collection, but the real gem is the building/compound itself. It's incredible.<p>[0]<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_Museum" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_Museum</a>
RIP legend. You literally put your mark on this world! One of the building he designed in Singapore is "The Gateway"[0]. Every time I am around the area, I can't help but be in awe.<p>0: <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gateway_(Singapore)" rel="nofollow">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gateway_(Singapore)</a>
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Bank-of-china_clean-img-sma.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Bank-of-...</a><p>After moving to Hong Kong, I lived near the Bank
of China Tower and I would see it every day. I never failed to be awed by the striking design until the day I left. It always felt like it, and the HSBC building close by were competing for wow factor.
Sad. I went to the MIT Media Lab and he designed the building I was in. One of the absolute most breathtaking buildings I've ever had the pleasure to be part of. Will miss his work. Hope some new whippersnapper takes the torch.
I've gone to the Suzhou Museum in China designed by I.M. Pei, and it's really nice, recommend a visit.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou_Museum" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou_Museum</a><p>Seemed like a great guy.