Architect I.M. Pei has died at the age of 102. Here, he's seen in 1985 with an architectural model of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. Click through the gallery to see his life and work in pictures.
Architect I.M. Pei has died at the age of 102. Here, he's seen in 1985 with an architectural model of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. Click through the gallery to see his life and work in pictures.
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A Christian chapel on the campus of Tunghai University in Taichung, central Taiwan, the Luce Memorial Chapel is named after an American missionary who traveled to China in the late 19th century. Completed by Pei, working with Chen Chi-Kwan, in 1963, its walls are made of reinforced concrete, designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons.
Luce Memorial Chapel, Tunghai University, Taiwan —
A Christian chapel on the campus of Tunghai University in Taichung, central Taiwan, the Luce Memorial Chapel is named after an American missionary who traveled to China in the late 19th century. Completed by Pei, working with Chen Chi-Kwan, in 1963, its walls are made of reinforced concrete, designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons.
Tse Pui Lung/Alamy
Completed in 1978, Dallas City Hall is the seat of Dallas's municipal government. Pei designed the building as an inverted pyramid, with public areas on the lower floors, and office space on the upper floors. His idea was that visitors should be able to access the attractive spaces in the lower stories easily, without having to navigate through a maze of offices.
Dallas City Hall, United States —
Completed in 1978, Dallas City Hall is the seat of Dallas's municipal government. Pei designed the building as an inverted pyramid, with public areas on the lower floors, and office space on the upper floors. His idea was that visitors should be able to access the attractive spaces in the lower stories easily, without having to navigate through a maze of offices.
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
When I.M. Pei met John F Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, in 1964, he explained that as a relatively young architect, he did not have experience of working on monumental projects. Nonetheless, Kennedy thought Pei was so filled with promise and imagination, that she chose him -- from a list that included American's best-known architects -- to design her late husband's library. The library, which was finished in 1979, consists of a stark white, nine-story tower, with a contiguous, geometric, light-filled, glass-and-steel pavilion.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, United States —
When I.M. Pei met John F Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, in 1964, he explained that as a relatively young architect, he did not have experience of working on monumental projects. Nonetheless, Kennedy thought Pei was so filled with promise and imagination, that she chose him -- from a list that included American's best-known architects -- to design her late husband's library. The library, which was finished in 1979, consists of a stark white, nine-story tower, with a contiguous, geometric, light-filled, glass-and-steel pavilion.
Michael Springer/Getty Images
Pei designed the modernist, wedge-shaped East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington to fit into its tricky, trapezoid-shaped site. To create visual harmony, Pei built the exterior with the same pink marble -- dug from quarries in Tennessee -- that was used to construct the museum's older West Building. The East Building opened in 1978.<br />
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. —
Pei designed the modernist, wedge-shaped East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington to fit into its tricky, trapezoid-shaped site. To create visual harmony, Pei built the exterior with the same pink marble -- dug from quarries in Tennessee -- that was used to construct the museum's older West Building. The East Building opened in 1978.
Dennis K. Johnson/Alamy
Made of glass segments and metal poles, I.M Pei's stunning pyramid serves as the public entrance to Paris's Louvre Museum. Situated in the Cour Napoléon, the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace, it is surrounded by three smaller pyramids. Since it opened to the public in 1989, the pyramid has become a much-loved Paris landmark.
Louvre Museum, Paris —
Made of glass segments and metal poles, I.M Pei's stunning pyramid serves as the public entrance to Paris's Louvre Museum. Situated in the Cour Napoléon, the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace, it is surrounded by three smaller pyramids. Since it opened to the public in 1989, the pyramid has become a much-loved Paris landmark.
JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD/AFP/Getty Images
A photo taken on July 28, 1988 shows a general view of the construction site of the Louvre Pyramid.
Louvre Museum, Paris —
A photo taken on July 28, 1988 shows a general view of the construction site of the Louvre Pyramid.
JOEL ROBINE/AFP/Getty Images
The Bank of China Tower, which houses the headquarters of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd, is one of the most distinctive skyscrapers in central Hong Kong. Completed in 1990, its four triangular towers were inspired by bamboo plants, which represent prosperity and revitalization in Chinese culture.
Bank of China, Hong Kong —
The Bank of China Tower, which houses the headquarters of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd, is one of the most distinctive skyscrapers in central Hong Kong. Completed in 1990, its four triangular towers were inspired by bamboo plants, which represent prosperity and revitalization in Chinese culture.
Greg Balfour Evans/Alamy
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which rises above the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, opened its doors in 1995. Despite knowing little about rock and roll, Pei designed a building that captures the drama of the music, with bold, pyramidal forms anchored by a 162-foot tower.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, United States —
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which rises above the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, opened its doors in 1995. Despite knowing little about rock and roll, Pei designed a building that captures the drama of the music, with bold, pyramidal forms anchored by a 162-foot tower.
Paul Spinelli via AP
The Miho Museum, named after its founder Koyama Mihoko, stands on a forested hill in a nature reserve near the town of Shigaraki, southeast of Kyoto. Completed in 1996, the museum offers sweeping views of the surrounding hills. The walls and floor are made of French limestone -- the same material used by Pei in the entrance hall of the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Miho Museum, Shigaraki, Japan —
The Miho Museum, named after its founder Koyama Mihoko, stands on a forested hill in a nature reserve near the town of Shigaraki, southeast of Kyoto. Completed in 1996, the museum offers sweeping views of the surrounding hills. The walls and floor are made of French limestone -- the same material used by Pei in the entrance hall of the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Iain Masterton/Alamy
Although I.M. Pei grew up mostly in Hong Kong and Shanghai, he was born in Suzhou, so the commission to design the Suzhou Museum had unique personal resonance. Pei chose to combine his modern, geometric, architectural hallmarks with elements of traditional Chinese design. The museum has whitewashed walls and a gray roof, and a large Chinese garden with an artificial pond. Inaugurated in 2006, it houses a collection of Chinese paintings, calligraphy, arts and crafts, and excavated artifacts. <br />
Suzhou Museum, China —
Although I.M. Pei grew up mostly in Hong Kong and Shanghai, he was born in Suzhou, so the commission to design the Suzhou Museum had unique personal resonance. Pei chose to combine his modern, geometric, architectural hallmarks with elements of traditional Chinese design. The museum has whitewashed walls and a gray roof, and a large Chinese garden with an artificial pond. Inaugurated in 2006, it houses a collection of Chinese paintings, calligraphy, arts and crafts, and excavated artifacts.
Kerun Ip, Courtesy of Pei Partnership Architects
In the mid 2000s, I.M. Pei -- by then in his late eighties -- was coaxed out of retirement to design the Museum of Islamic Art in the Qatari capital, Doha. Pei embarked on a world tour to learn about Muslim architecture and history. Having visited Spain, Tunisia, Syria and India, it was the austerity and simplicity of the ablutions fountain at the 9th century Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt, that inspired his vision. Built on an artificial island, the museum is clad with creamy limestone that captures the changes in light and shade during the day.<br />
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar —
In the mid 2000s, I.M. Pei -- by then in his late eighties -- was coaxed out of retirement to design the Museum of Islamic Art in the Qatari capital, Doha. Pei embarked on a world tour to learn about Muslim architecture and history. Having visited Spain, Tunisia, Syria and India, it was the austerity and simplicity of the ablutions fountain at the 9th century Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt, that inspired his vision. Built on an artificial island, the museum is clad with creamy limestone that captures the changes in light and shade during the day.
Courtesy of the Museum of Islamic Art and Pei Partnership Architects
The museum's 164 foot atrium, hidden from view outside by the walls of a central tower, is crowned with an oculus that captures light from the desert sun and reflects it in patterns on the facets of the dome's walls. <br />
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar —
The museum's 164 foot atrium, hidden from view outside by the walls of a central tower, is crowned with an oculus that captures light from the desert sun and reflects it in patterns on the facets of the dome's walls.
Courtesy of the Museum of Islamic Art and Pei Partnership Architects