Chinese architect Ieoh Ming Pei who worked on the Louvre, has died aged 102
According to the BBC, Chinese architect Ieoh Ming Pei has died at the age of 102.
The Guangzhou-born architect is known for working on the Louvre and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar as well as Hong Kong’s Bank of China.
Having worked on a variety of buildings including hotels, schools and government buildings, Pei was regarded as one of the world’s most renowned architects.
Pei also worked as a research scientist for the US government in WWII.
The Louvre, completed in 1989 is now one of France’s most iconic landmarks. Initially, Pei’s glass pyramid design was regarded as controversial.
The Chinese architect has won numerous awards for his buildings including the AIA Gold Medal, the Praemium Imperiale for Architecture and the Pritzker Prize. He used his $100,000 prize money sponsor scholarships for Chinese students to study architecture in the USA.
His modernist design draws heavily from cubism influences. Glass, steel and concrete were his favourite materials.
“I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity,” he once said.
