I. M. Pei

Date of Birth: April 26, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: May 16, 2019

Biography

Ieoh Ming Pei, commonly known as I. M. Pei, was a Chinese-American architect born on April 26, 1917, in Guangzhou, China. He moved to the United States in 1935 to study architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. However, he quickly transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1940. He later attended the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he earned his Master’s degree in 1946 and studied under influential architects such as Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. Pei is renowned for his unique approach to modernist architecture, which combines traditional architectural elements with innovative design and materials. Over his six-decade-long career, Pei designed iconic buildings worldwide, including the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. In recognition of his contributions to architecture, Pei received numerous awards and honors, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1983, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of architecture.” He passed away on May 16, 2019, at the age of 102.

5 Interesting Facts about I. M. Pei

1. I. M. Pei was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush.

2. His design for the Louvre Pyramid was initially met with controversy but eventually became one of Paris’s most iconic landmarks.

3. Pei was known for his meticulous attention to detail, often spending years on a single project to ensure perfection.

4. He was one of the first architects to use glass walls extensively, which became a hallmark of his design style.

5. Pei’s work was influenced by both Western and Eastern architectural traditions, reflecting his Chinese heritage and Western education.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from I. M. Pei

1. “Success is a collection of problems solved.”

2. “Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society.”

3. “The essence of architecture is the three-dimensional expression of human ideas.”

4. “Life is architecture and architecture is the mirror of life.”

5. “I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, I. M. Pei’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

I. M. Pei had four children with his wife, Eileen Loo: T’ing Chung Pei, Chien Chung Pei (also known as Didi Pei), Li Chung Pei (also known as Sandi Pei), and Liane Pei. Both Didi and Sandi followed in their father’s footsteps and became architects.