Famous Architects of the World

Architecture has evolved as a profession over centuries. The ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro - the present day India and Pakistan or the Great Pyramids of Egypt are magnificent examples of early architecture. Architectural style changed in time and today we cite examples such as the Imperial War Museum North in England and the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, as modern day architecture marvels. All these magnificent buildings reflect the efforts that were taken by the architects who designed them. Let us see some people who became famous for their sheer creative talent - architecture.

Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris better known as Le Corbusier was a famous architect of Swiss-French dual nationality. Born on October 6, 1887, he studied at La Chaux de Fonds before working with an architect of Austrian origin, Josef Hoffman. His '5 points of Architecture' included open floor plan without supporters, roof garden, free standing pillar, vertical facade and long horizontal sliding windows. Famous works by Le Corbusier include Palace for League of Nations in Geneva (1927-28) and The Secretariat at United Nations Headquarters in New York (1952). He passed away in 1965.

Frank Lloyd Wright, regarded as America's most famous architect, was born on June 8, 1867 in Wisconsin. Frank joined University of Wisconsin in 1882 to study engineering but left school after a few semesters. He started his individual practice after working with Louis Sullivan for six years. He practiced styles such as Organic Architecture, Hemicycle Designs and Prairie Style. Before his death in April 1959 at the age of 91 years, Wright had significant works including Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, Guggenheim Museum in New York and Johnson Wax Headquarters in Wisconsin to his credit.

Alvar Aalto was a renowned Finnish architect who lived between February 3, 1898 and May 11, 1976. He was called the Father of Modern Scandinavian Architecture and the Father of Modernism. He graduated from Helsinki University of Technology with honors in Architecture. One can notice the influence of the art works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in Aalto's work. Finnish structures such as Paimio Sanatorium, Villa Mairea and Finlandia Hall are some noted contributions by Aalto to the World architecture. He was awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1957.

Robert A.M. Stern is an American architect and the Dean of Yale University School of Architecture in Connecticut, United States. Born on May 23, 1939, Stern completed his Bachelor's Degree in 1960 from Columbia and Master's Degree for Architecture in 1965 from Yale. He has designed many projects for The Walt Disney Company including Disney Beach Club Resort and Disney Yacht Club Resort in Florida. Other notable works by R. Stern include Federal Courthouse for Richmond, Virginia and Nashville Public Library in Nashville.

Christopher Wren was a famous architect from England who lived between October 20, 1632 and February 25, 1723. After completing his education, he worked as a professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London. In 1663 Christopher Wren started his career as an architect by designing a New Chapel for Pembroke College, Cambridge. After the Great Fire of London, he designed over 50 churches in London including the St Paul's Cathedral. Wren's works were influenced by works of Marcus Vitruvius, the 1st Century Roman architect. He also traveled to Paris to study Baroque architecture. His other notable works were Christ Church College Bell Tower, Sheldonian Theater at Oxford, Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Royal Observatory and the Library at Trinity College in Cambridge. His major contribution towards architecture was when he helped rebuild London after the 'Great Fire of London' gutted it down in September 1666.

Kenzo Tange was a Japanese architect, born on September 4, 1913 in Osaka, Japan. Strong influences of Le Corbusier style of architecture can be noticed in Kenzo Tange's works. He is credited with architectural works like Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima in 1955 and a Yoyogi National Gymnasium for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Tokyo Cathedral, Central Area New Federal Capital City of Nigeria and University of Bahrain. He won Pritzker Prize for architecture awarded by the Hyatt Foundation in 1987. His other awards included AIA Gold Medal (1966), Order of Culture (1980) and Order of Sacred Treasures (1994).

These were some great architects who have laid the platform for an art which is continuously growing, each person adding a bit of his own to come up with magnificent structures for us to feast our eyes on.