A PRESENTATION ON MICHEAL GRAVES

SUBMITTED BY
RADHIKA YADAV 072-BAE-229
SUNITA KASICHHIWA 072-BAE-244
OVERVIEW
 Introduction
 Early life and Education
 Influences
 Philosophy
 Designs Attributes
 Product Designs
 Design Examples
 Legacy
INTRODUCTION
 Michael Graves was an American
architect (1934-2015)
 Served primly as a designer
cum architect
 A post modern architect later
on became a prime humanist Michael Graves
architect advocating New
Urbanism.
 An influential figure in design world
 LIFE and EDUCATION
 Born in Indianapolis, Indiana
 Studied architecture from
University of Cincinnati, Ohio.
 Later spent two years at
Academy Of Rome which
shaped his entire career.
 In later stage of his life, he Michael Graves after
paralysis
suffered from paralysis from
waist down until his death.
 INFLUENCES
 Influenced by pure modernistic
designs.
 Member of The New York Five
along with Peter Eisenman,
Michael Graves, Charles
Gwathmey, John Hejduk and
Richard Meier
 Worked on the pursuit of the pure The New York Five

modernist aesthetics.
 Later stage he was more influenced towards post
modernism and neo urbanism
 INFLUENCES….
 Highly influenced by Roman
architecture i.e. Classical
architecture
 Approached “Humanistic
Classical Idea”
 Often used the phrase
“Learning how to use Rome”
 Abstract classical aspect silently Michael Graves’s drawing
of classical Basilicia
merged with modernism and the
post modernism.
 INFLUENCES….

 Graves took the classical elements and merged

into a post modern colorful vibrant building.
 DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
 Creating a Joy and Comfort through
design
 Believed design should never overwhelm
its purpose.
 Introduced colors in his buildings with a
playful classical touch.
 Use of history, wit and irony in buildings
 Gradual transition of spaces.
 Buildings accommodated by a welcoming
sculpture
 THE PORTLAND BUILDING
 One of the most renowned
Graves’s project and his first
postmodernist building
 Considered to be the first
built work of postmodernism
 A 15 story municipal office
building in Portland, Oregon
 Groundbreaking design in the
then modernist design point
of view
 THE PORTLAND BUILDING…
 Displays numerous symbolic
elements on its grand facade
 Stands in the purposeful
contrast to the functional then
Modernist architecture that
was dominant at the time
 According to Graves it’s
“a symbolic gesture, an attempt Portland Building
to re-establish a language of architecture and values
that are not a part of modernist homogeneity.”
 THE PORTLAND BUILDING…
 The building attempts to create
a continuum between past and
present
 Symmetrical block with four
off-white, stucco-covered
rectangular facades featuring
reinterpreted Classical
elements
 Over-scaled keystones,
pilasters and belvederes etc.
are reintreprated
THE PORTLAND BUILDING…
 THE PORTLAND BUILDING…
 Set on a two-story base,
reminiscent of a Greek
pedestal, which divides it into
the Classical three-part
partition of base-body-top
 Symbolism through color
 Green for the ground, blue for
the sky, etc. in order to visually
tie the building
THE PORTLAND BUILDING…
DESIGN ATTRIBUTES

The twin peaks of Castilia compliments the

surroundings steeply pitched roofs
DESIGN ATTRIBUTES….

The Atrium of Minneapolis Institute of Arts is

curvilinear and derived from classical yet of a
human scale
DESIGN ATTRIBUTES….

The Barrel Vaults of US Courthouse blends with

Washinton’s skyline
PRODUCT DESIGN
 Graves believed “Design is for
everyone”
 From a skyscraper resort, to a
government office to a public library
to a simple kettle.
 Equally known for his household Whistle kettle designed
by Michael Graves
product designs.
 Attention to shape and sizes as well
as convenience.
 PRODUCT DESIGN….

Scallop Watch Toaster Whistle Kettle

PRODUCT DESIGN….

Graves even designed a wheelchair

 PRODUCT DESIGN….
 Graves designed a
room and its all elements
for disabled people

 In later stages of his

life he became more
and more attuned towards
all the product relating
Kimberly Clarke house designed by
differently able people Micheal Graves for differently able
people
NEW URBANISM
 Sensitive to building environment and historic
content
 “To be a humanist is architect’s first
responsibility and architecture should connect
people with natural surrounding and this
doesn’t necessiraily mean green architecture.”
 Creating a nature friendly buildings that
communicate to nature rather than adjust it.
 LEGACY
 Graves remain one of the most
influential figures in American
architecture
 He is often known with a phrase
“So well-so much and for so
many”
 Sought to design buildings and
products as an answer to times
need and human’s convienence
 Saw design and architecture as a
whole picture
Refrence
 Wikipedia
 Arc daily
 Dezeen.com
 Pintrest
 Livestock.pic
 Great buildings.com