ARCHITECTS / G

Jeanne Gang (born 1964) is an acclaimed American architect and founder of Studio Gang, an architecture and urban design firm established in 1997. A graduate of the University of Illinois and Harvard Graduate School of Design, she is known for innovative projects like Chicago’s Aqua Tower, featuring its striking, undulating facade, and the Richard Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Gang's work explores sustainability and community connection. Honored with a MacArthur Fellowship in 2011 and named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019, she is also a Professor in Practice at Harvard GSD.

Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) was a visionary Catalan architect and leading figure of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement. Born in Reus, Spain, he studied architecture in Barcelona, where his imaginative and nature-inspired designs flourished. Gaudí’s most iconic works include the still-unfinished Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló, all celebrated for their organic forms, vibrant mosaics, and structural innovations. He pioneered techniques using ceramics, stained glass, and ironwork, creating distinctive, dreamlike spaces. Deeply religious, Gaudí devoted his later years to the Sagrada Família, which continues to define his legacy as one of history’s most creative architects.

Manuelle Gautrand, born in 1961 in Marseille, France, is a prominent French architect and the founder of Manuelle Gautrand Architecture, established in 1991. She earned her architecture degree from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Montpellier in 1985. Gautrand's diverse portfolio includes cultural, residential, and commercial projects. Notable works encompass the C42 Citroën showroom on Paris's Champs-Élysées, the transformation of the Gaîté-Lyrique Theatre into a digital arts center, and the AVA Tower in La Défense. Her innovative designs have garnered international acclaim, leading to her recognition as a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 2010.

Frank Gehry, born Frank Owen Goldberg on February 28, 1929, in Toronto, Canada, is a Canadian-American architect celebrated for his innovative and unconventional designs. After moving to Los Angeles in 1947, he earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California in 1954. Gehry's distinctive style features bold, sculptural forms and the use of unconventional materials. Notable works include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. In 1989, he was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, recognizing his significant contributions to contemporary architecture.

Annette Gigon (born May 24, 1959, in Herisau, Switzerland) is a distinguished Swiss architect known for her precise, material-driven designs. After graduating from ETH Zurich in 1984, she co-founded Gigon/Guyer Architects with Mike Guyer in 1989. The firm gained international recognition with projects like the Kirchner Museum in Davos and Zurich’s Prime Tower. Gigon’s work is celebrated for its formal clarity, innovative material use, and seamless integration with surroundings. Beyond practice, she has influenced architectural education, serving as a professor at ETH Zurich from 2012 to 2023. Her contributions continue to shape contemporary Swiss and global architecture.

Giorgio Grassi, born on October 27, 1935, in Milan, Italy, is a prominent Italian architect and a key figure in the Italian rationalist movement, also known as La Tendenza. He graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 1960 and worked for the magazine Casabella-continuità until 1964. Grassi's designs are characterized by their formal simplicity and clarity, often utilizing exposed brick and square windows. Notable projects include the Student House at the University of Chieti (1976) and the restoration of the Roman Theatre in Sagunto, Spain (1985). Beyond his architectural practice, Grassi has contributed significantly to architectural theory, emphasizing the autonomy of architecture and its historical continuity.

Eileen Gray (1878–1976) was an Irish architect and furniture designer, celebrated as a pioneer of the Modern Movement. Born in Enniscorthy, Ireland, she studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London before moving to Paris, where she mastered lacquer work and innovative furniture design. Blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, she created iconic pieces and architectural works. Her masterpiece, the E-1027 house in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, exemplifies her functional yet elegant style. Despite limited formal training in architecture, Gray’s visionary approach has left a lasting impact on modern design, influencing generations of architects and designers.

Vittorio Gregotti (1927–2020) was a renowned Italian architect, urban planner, and theorist, recognized as a key figure in 20th-century architecture. Born in Novara, Italy, he graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 1952. In 1974, he founded Gregotti Associati International, leading significant projects such as the renovation of the Barcelona Olympic Stadium for the 1992 Games and the Belém Cultural Center in Lisbon. Gregotti also served as editor-in-chief of the architectural magazine Casabella from 1982 to 1996, influencing architectural discourse. His work emphasized the integration of architecture with its cultural and environmental context. Gregotti passed away in Milan due to complications from COVID-19.

Marion Mahony Griffin (1871–1961) was a trailblazing American architect and one of the first licensed female architects in the world. Born in Chicago, she graduated from MIT in 1894, among the first women to earn an architecture degree. A key member of the Prairie School, she worked closely with Frank Lloyd Wright, creating stunning architectural renderings. In 1911, she married architect Walter Burley Griffin, and together they designed Canberra, Australia’s capital city. Her projects in the U.S., Australia, and India emphasized harmony with nature and innovative urban planning. Her artistry and pioneering spirit paved the way for women in architecture.

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (born 1939) is a celebrated British architect and a pioneer of high-tech architecture. After graduating from the Architectural Association in London in 1965, he founded Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, now Grimshaw Architects. His work is distinguished by innovative engineering and sleek, modern materials. Notable projects include the Waterloo International railway station in London, hailed for its bold, curving glass roof, and the Eden Project in Cornwall, with its iconic biomes. Knighted in 2002, Grimshaw also served as President of the Royal Academy of Arts (2004–2011) and received the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2019 for his architectural contributions.

Walter Gropius (1883–1969) was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School, one of the most influential movements in modern design and architecture. Born in Berlin, he studied architecture in Munich and Berlin before establishing his practice. In 1919, he founded the Bauhaus in Weimar, emphasizing the integration of art, craft, and technology. Gropius’s designs, like the Bauhaus Dessau building, showcased functionalism, simplicity, and the innovative use of modern materials. Emigrating to the U.S. in 1937, he taught at Harvard and co-founded The Architects Collaborative (TAC). His legacy endures as a pioneer of modernism and architectural education.

Hector Guimard (1867–1942) was a French architect and designer, celebrated as a leading figure in the Art Nouveau movement. Born in Lyon, he studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Guimard is best known for his curvilinear, nature-inspired designs that blend functionality with artistic expression. His iconic works include the Castel Béranger in Paris, which gained him fame, and the Paris Métro entrances, emblematic of Art Nouveau's organic style. Although his popularity declined with the rise of modernism, Guimard’s innovative designs have since been recognized as masterpieces of early 20th-century architecture and decorative arts.

Lux Guyer (1894–1955) was a pioneering Swiss architect, recognized as the first woman in Switzerland to establish her own architectural practice in 1924. Born in Zurich, she studied interior design and architecture, gaining experience through apprenticeships in Zurich and Berlin, and study trips to Paris, London, and Florence. Guyer is best known for her role as the head architect of the 1928 SAFFA women's fair in Bern, where she designed innovative buildings using prefabricated wooden elements. Her notable projects include the Lettenhof housing development for women in Zurich (1927) and the Obere Schiedhalde house in Küsnacht (1929). Guyer’s work significantly contributed to early 20th-century Swiss architecture, emphasizing functional design and social considerations.