I.M.

Pei
KAVIT BHATIA
ANKIT PRADEEP
3-B
 INTRODUCTION

• I.M. Pei was Born in China on April 26, 1917.

• In 1935, he began studying architecture in the United States and eventually earned
his B.A. from MIT and his M.A. from Harvard.
• After starting his own architectural firm in 1955, Pei went on to design such well-
known structures as The Kennedy Library, The Glass Pyramid at Louvre and The
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• Now in his 90’s Pei continues to design innovative structures throughout the world
and has countless honors for his work within the field of architecture.
 EARLY LIFE
• When he was 17 years old, he travelled to the United States, initially attending the
University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia before transferring to the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1940.
• Pei soon continued his studies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design,
where he had the opportunity to study with German architect and founder of the
Bauhaus design movement Walter Gropius.
• During the World War II, Pei took a break from his education to work for the
National Defense Research Committee.
• In 1944, he returned to Harvard and earned his master’s degree in architecture two
years later.
• Around this time, Pei also worked an assistant professor at the university.
 DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
• Due to his reliance on abstract form and materials such as stone, concrete, glass
and steel, Pei has been considered a disciple of Walter Gropius.
• However, Pei shows little concern with theory. He does not believe that
architecture must find forms to express the times or that it should remain isolated
from commercial forces.
• Pei generally designs sophisticated glass clad buildings loosely related to the high-
tech movement.
• However, many of his designs result from original design concepts.
• He frequently works on large scale and is renowned for his sharp, geometric
designs.
 FAMOUS WORKS

• John F. Kennedy Library ( 1965 – 1979 )

• National Gallery of Art ( 1968 – 1978 )
• The Bank of China Tower ( 1982 - 1989 )
• The Louvre Pyramid ( 1983 – 1993 )
• Miho Museum (1991-1997)
 John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
• After being hand-picked by President Kennedy’s widow,
Jacqueline Kennedy, to design the Kennedy Library, Pei
said it was the most important commission of his life.
• The project took much longer than it was supposed to
(completed in 1979), and it’s location was changed from
Harvard Square to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• Pei did not love the outcome, but it did boost his
reputation as an architect.
 National Gallery Of Art
• On July 9, 1968, the trustees of the National Gallery
selected Pei to design a building to provide additional
space for the permanent collection and temporary
exhibitions, as well as a new center for research in the
history of art.
• The architect faced several challenges. The new
building had to fit an irregularly shaped, trapezoidal site.
• The first idea for the atrium called for a coffered
concrete ceiling over the enormous expanse.
•Pei had agreed that instead of a concrete ceiling a
skylight system should be designed, which would open
the atrium to natural light.
 Bank Of China Tower
• The Bank of China Tower stand 70 stories
tall, reaching a height of 1209 feet. At the
time of it’s opening in may 1990, it was the
tallest building in Asia and still remains as
one of the tallest in Hong Kong.
• Pei was requested to create an
unavoidably tall unique headquarters in a
typhoon - prone region.
• The highest column of the tower
distributes the weight of the building to its
four corners.
 Louvre Pyramid
• The louvre pyramid was built in the 1980s as the main
entrance to the Louvre Museum
• The pyramid is rather modest in size compared to the
surrounding palace wings of the Louvre
• It has a height of about 22meters (72ft) and its base
measures just over 35 meters (116ft).
• It is flanked by three smaller pyramids and reflecting pools
with modern fountains.
• The 675 diamond-shaped and 118 triangular panes were
specifically fabricated to make them completely clear.
• Attention was also paid to the 128 steel girders abd 16 steel
cables that hold the panes together.
• The monumental appearance of the glass and steel pyramid
fixed in the middle of the court provides a central focal point
that compliments the scale and design of the Louvre.
 Miho Museum
• “The Tale of Peach Blossom Spring” a very famous folk
story from the Jin Dynasty in China. Taking this tale into
account the renowned architect I.M. Pei designed the
museum Miho, Japan.
• The site was extremely difficult to get to and it had all
types of regulations to be followed and only a fraction
of the building was allowed to be exposed.
• So, he dug up the mountain, placed 80% of the building
underground, restored the landscape’s original
contours and designed peaked glass roofs to admit light
into the building lobby and other public spaces.
• Principles followed by Pei is the respect for Chinese-
Japanese tradition, despite the use of modern
architecture.
 AWARDS
• 1983- Pritzker Architecture Prize.
• 1979- ALA Gold Medal.
• 1989- Praemium Imperiale.
• 1993- Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• 2004,2011- Twenty-Five Year Award,
• 2010- Royal Gold Medal.
• National Design Award for Lifetime
Achievement.