I.M. Pei, a world-class architect and American Chinese, and Zhao Wuji, a French Chinese painter, and Zhou Wenzhong, an American Chinese composer, are regarded as the "three treasures of art" of overseas Chinese. Some people may say that architecture is a science, why should it be juxtaposed with art? However, everyone in the architectural field knows that I.M. Pei is not only an outstanding architect, but also built many magnificent palaces with pens and rulers. He is an extremely idealistic architectural artist who is good at combining ancient traditional architectural art with the latest modern technology to create his own unique style. I.M. Pei himself said: "Although architecture and art are different, they are essentially the same. My goal is to seek their harmony and unity." The original persistent pursuit of architectural art? Is an important aspect of his career success.

I.M. Pei, 19 17 was born in Guangzhou on April 26th. His ancestors were Suzhou aristocrats, and his father Bei Zuyi was the president of China Bank. He went to Hong Kong in 19 19 and founded the Bank of China Hong Kong Branch. Therefore, I.M. Pei spent her childhood in Hong Kong and studied in Sao Paulo Primary School. 1935, he crossed the ocean to study in the United States. His father had hoped that he would go to England to study finance, but he did not obey his father's orders, but entered Pennsylvania State University to study architecture according to his hobbies.

Why is he interested in architecture? It was also an accident. When he was studying in Shanghai, he often went to a billiard hall to play billiards on weekends. The tallest hotel in Shanghai was being built near the billiard hall at that time. This aroused his curiosity: how could anyone have the ability to build such a tall building, from which he had the ideal of learning architecture.

However, I.M. Pei was very disappointed with the teaching method of explaining classical architectural theory with pictures in the University of Pennsylvania. He transferred to MIT, graduated with 1939, and won an award from American Institute of Architects. After the outbreak of World War II, he served in the US Air Force for three years. 1944 retired and entered Harvard University, a famous institution of higher learning, to study for a master's degree. 1945 completed his studies, stayed in school, and was employed as an assistant professor in the design institute.

I.M. Pei entered the field of practical architecture from a purely academic ivory tower on 1948. This year, William Chaigendorf, a visionary and enterprising real estate developer in new york, broke the convention of American architecture and hired I.M. Pei from China as an architect for the first time as the director of the architectural research department of Weber knapp Construction Company he founded. Chai Gendorf and I.M. Pei, one is an experienced, eloquent and extremely intelligent real estate builder, and the other is an architect with professional knowledge and great creativity. They cooperate and complement each other, and they are ideal partners in their careers. They worked together for 12 years. During the period of 12, I.M. Pei completed a number of commercial and residential complex designs for Chaigendorf's real estate company, and also made a number of social transformation plans. During this period, I.M. Pei also designed a science building for his alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and two faculty and staff residential buildings for new york University. All of these made I.M. Pei make his first appearance in American architecture, and laid the foundation for his career in the following decades.

1960, I.M. Pei left Chaigendorf and started his own construction company.

He is most praised for his concern for the interests of civilians in architectural design. He has designed many popular apartments in new york, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago, which are both beautiful and economical. The three-story social apartment he designed in Philadelphia is very popular with the working class. Therefore, Rice University in Philadelphia awarded him the honorary title of "People's Architect" in 1963. In the same year, the American Architectural Society awarded him the new york Honorary Award. Washington post called his architectural design an urban plan that really serves the people.

With the booming business of his construction company, his main design force has gradually shifted from urban reconstruction scheme to the design of giant public buildings. The National Center for Atmospheric Research, built in the mountains of Colorado in the 1960s, can be said to be the beginning of his design of public buildings. The center was established in 196 1 year and completed in 1967. Its shape is simple and vigorous, and the tower-shaped roof makes the building itself like a towering mountain peak, which is in harmony with the surrounding environment. Newsweek published its photos, calling Pei's design a "breakthrough design".

What really made I.M. Pei famous and among the world-class architects was the design and construction of the John F. Kennedy Library. 196 1 year, in memory of the late American President John F. Kennedy, it was decided to build a permanent building-John F. Kennedy Library in Boston Harbor. At first, the Kennedy family didn't pay much attention to I.M. Pei, who was a "newborn calf" among a large group of first-class architects to be selected. But when he vividly described the design according to the building site, the choice of building materials, and how to give the building special use and significance, he was deeply admired by Jackie Kennedy's widow. She asserted that "I am Pei's wonderful world is unparalleled, so I chose him after careful consideration". This building was built 15 years ago. The library was completed in 1979, which caused a sensation in the American architectural community because of its novel design, bold modeling and superb technology. It is recognized as one of the best masterpieces in American architectural history. The American architectural community declared 1979 as "the year of I.M. Pei" and awarded him the gold medal of the American Architectural Society that year.

In fact, the design and construction of the East Pavilion of the National Gallery of Washington was successful one year before the completion of the John F. Kennedy Library-1978, which established Pei's position as a world-class architect. At the opening ceremony of the "East Pavilion", then US President Carter said, "It is not only a harmonious and comprehensive part of Washington, but also a symbol of the increasing connection between public life and artistic interests." I.M. Pei is called "a rare outstanding architect".

The geographical location of the "East Pavilion" is very prominent. It looks east at the Capitol and west at the White House. But the terrain it occupies is an irregular quadrangle, which is difficult for architects to deal with. In order to form a highly harmonious scenery between the building and the surrounding environment, I.M. Pei carefully conceived and creatively connected platforms, stairs, slopes and colonnades with different heights and shapes, giving people an unpredictable feeling. Sunlight enters from different angles through the spider web skylight, forming a 1 beautiful picture. This "East Pavilion", which took ten years and cost nearly one hundred million dollars, is known as "the creative combination of modern art and architecture".

People in the architectural field generally believe that Pei Ming's architectural design has three characteristics: First, the architectural form and the environment are naturally integrated. Second, the space handling is unique. Third, the building materials are exquisite and the interior design of the building is exquisite. These characteristics have been fully reflected in the design of "East Pavilion".

For decades, I.M. Pei has designed many museums, universities, commercial centers and skyscrapers all over the United States, as well as many large-scale buildings in Canada, France, Australia, Singapore, Iran, Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan Province Province. He is a world-famous architect.

According to rough statistics, in the past half century, I.M. Pei has designed more than 100 large buildings and won more than 50 awards. He designed nearly 50 large buildings in America? There are 24 awards.

1959 I.M. Pei won the first prize. 1998, the Melha Shopping Center in Denver, USA, which he designed won the honorary award of American Architectural Society. In the same year, he won the Excellence Award of the Association for designing a new building in Denver. After the 1960s, he won more awards, especially in the 1980s.

In the early 1980s, French President Mitterrand decided to rebuild and expand the Louvre, a world-famous art treasure house. To this end, the China Municipal Government has extensively solicited design schemes. The applicant is a famous architect from France and other countries. Finally, President Mitterrand came forward and invited 15 world-renowned museum directors to choose the design scheme for the application. Results 13 The curator chose the design scheme of I.M. Pei. He designed to build a glass pyramid in Napoleon's courtyard in the Louvre with modern building materials. Unexpectedly, once this matter was announced, it caused an uproar in France. People think it will destroy the style of this 800-year-old ancient building. "Destroy the Louvre? Destroyed the pyramid again. " However, President Mitterrand pushed through the design of I.M. Pei.