Architecture is not just the built environment, it’s a part of our culture and history, which bridges the gap between the bygone eras and the present day. Without architecture, there will be no soul of our civilization.
Architecture acts as a catalyst that helps in uplifting lifestyles, building communities, and inculcating cultures. Overall it stands as a representation of how we see ourselves, as well as the world.
The architects featured in this article are the 9 Best Architects In The World and the most influential architects who have contributed to the field of architecture by designing some of the most iconic buildings across the world including cultural centers, museums, stadiums, and skyscrapers.
All of them have their own unique styles and approaches to design, as well as their different ways of using the technology. But at the same time, have a common goal, which is to focus on creating buildings that are both environmentally sustainable and enjoyable for their occupants.
Here’s the list of 9 Best Architects In The World
Now check out them one by one.
1. Frank Lloyd Wright
Born in 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright was a popular American architect, designer, educator and writer. He has designed over 1,000 structures in his 70 years of lifetime including original & innovative offices, schools, churches, skyscrapers, museums, hotels, and other commercial projects.
He got the title of “the greatest American architect of all time” in the year 1991 by the American Institute of Architects. In 2019, one of his constructions became a listed World Heritage Site as The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.
If we talk about his style of design, Frank Lloyd Wright loves to use themed and well-coordinated design elements that are repeated in carpets, windows, and other fittings.
Also, he was one of the first architects who not only designed but also installed custom-made electric light fittings like electric floor lamps, and novel spherical glass lampshades, which was previously not possible.
Website: Frank Llyoyd Wright
2. Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, popularly known as Le Corbusier was a Swiss-French architect, painter, designer, urban planner, and writer. He was born in 1887 and became one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture.
In 1922, Le Corbusier devoted himself to creating new concepts of architecture and presented a model city for three million people. Within a year, he collected his essays from L’Esprit Nouveau and published “Towards an Architecture” which was his first and most influential book.
In his career of 77 years, he has designed buildings in different countries of the world including India, Europe, Japan, and Northern and southern parts of America. He believes that “Viollet-le-Duc is the place where the roots of modern architecture are to be found.
In India, Le Corbusier drew up the master plan for the city of Chandigarh as well as contributed by designing several buildings.
Website: Le Corbusier
3. Frank Gehry
The Pritzker Prize winner, Frank Owen Gehry is a Canadian-American architect and designer, who has designed a number of buildings, including his own private residence in Santa Monica, which have become world-renowned attractions for millions.
In the year 2010, his style of architecture and works are regarded as the most important of contemporary architecture in the World Architecture Survey. Also, he is the designer of the National Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.
His designs may seem to be unfinished or even crude, but they reflect a spirit of experimentation accompanied by professional practice and are unaligned with broader stylistic movements while carrying on their underlying transformative agendas.
The iconic buildings or famous tourist spots like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Bilbao Guggenheim, and the Biomuseo in Panama City have been designed by Gehry.
Website: Frank Gehry
4. Louis Kahn
Specializing in monumental and timeless designs, Louis Kahn was a renowned architect who grew up in America. He started his career as a designer and later established his own practice in 1935. He mostly plans structures emphasizing the importance of natural light, space and materiality.
Since Louis Kahn’s field of interest was classical and ancient architecture, his architecture is distinguished by strong geometries, innovative use of materials like exposed bricks, concrete & glass, and integration with natural light to add a sense of timelessness and monumentality.
Also Read: 10 Best Residential Architects In India
Although his life was short, his legacy as the most influential architects of the 20th century go on to influence generations of architects and designers.
As far as Louis Kahn’s contribution to India is concerned, the Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad was one of his unique offerings.
Website: Louis Khan
5. Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid was another prominent architect whose life extends from 1950-2016. She was an Iraqi-British architect, designer and artist, recognized as a key player in the field of architecture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Known for her imaginative and unique designs that pushed the barriers of architecture and challenged the traditional ideas of designing about form and space.
She takes on painting as her design tool and abstraction as a developmental principle in order to reinvestigate the terminated and untested experiments of modernism.
Zaha Hadid was the first woman to be honored with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Gold Medal in 2016. It’s her innovative use of technology and visionary approach that has made her an inspirational architect around the world.
Website: Zaha Hadid
6. Norman Foster
Recognized as a key figure in British modernist architecture, Norman Robert Foster is an influential architect and designer, who is closely linked with the expansion of high-tech architecture.
Regarding his architectural style, he was known for its innovative use of technology, while emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The Reichstag building in Berlin, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank headquarters in Hong Kong, the Hearst Tower in New York City, the British Museum Great Court in London and the Millau Viaduct in France are some of his most appreciated projects.
For his interdisciplinary thinking and unique designs he has received numerous honors and awards including the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1983, the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1999, the Praemium Imperiale in 2002 and many more.
Website: Norman Foster
7. Rem Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas is an urbanist, architectural theorist, and professor of architecture and urban design. He was always interested in architecture, so from 1968 to 1972 he studied at the Architectural Association in London.
But, Koolhaas first got attention as an urban theorist when his book Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan was published.
Thereafter, Koolhaas has written extensively on architecture and published several influential books, like “Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan” and more.
This professional architecture is widely known for its unconventional and innovative approach, as well as often cited as a representative of Deconstructivism. The popular Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), in Rotterdam, which has completed many projects across the globe has been designed by Rem Koolhaas.
Website: Rem Koolhaas
8. Renzo Piano
Prevailed by numerous awards and honors, Renzo Piano is an architect and an engineer from Italy. He was born in 1937 and earned his degree in architecture in 1964.
Renzo Piano, the 1998 Pritzker Prize winner, is best acknowledged for his controversial design of the Centre Georges Pompidou, which is located in the heart of Paris.
From his architectural approach point of view, his work has been called bold “postmodernism ” and “high-tech”. It can be seen from his 2006 renovation and expansion of the Morgan Museum and Library that he has designed in much more than one style. Unlike other architectural stars, Piano doesn’t have any particular signature style.
Instead, his work and design are characterized by an intellectual for balance and context. Giving attention to detail, he tries to maximize the use of natural light, which many projects exemplify.
Website: Renzo Piano
9. Bjarke Ingels
Known for a “hedonistic sustainability” approach, Bjarke Ingels is a Danish architect as well as a founder and creative partner of Bjarke Ingels Group.
He believes that architecture is not entrenched in two equally infertile fronts, but there’s also a third way, which is called pragmatic utopian architecture.
Ingels’s architectural style mainly focuses on making sustainable designs that will enhance the quality of life of the occupants, while contributing to the environment with a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable approach.
You can notice it in many of his designs, which often feature natural light, green spaces, and sustainable materials. He sees architecture as “worldcraft”, and hence instead of thinking in a limit, he uses all his knowledge and technology to create surreal spaces that can excite everyone.
Website: Bjarke Ingels
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this article not only highlights the background, design philosophies, notable projects, and contributions of these prestigious architects but also describes the power of architecture that helps to shape our built environment.
With their creative minds and unique designs, these architects have made a significant impact on the field of architecture, and serve as a source of inspiration for millions of designers, architects, and aspiring professionals across the globe.
Overall, this article is to provide you with a fascinating insight into the world of architecture and the people who are shaping it. We hope you find this article informative.