ARCHITECTS / M

Fumihiko Maki (born 1928) is a Japanese architect known for his refined, technologically advanced designs that merge modernism with traditional Japanese aesthetics. A graduate of the University of Tokyo and Harvard GSD, he founded Maki and Associates in 1965. His major works include the Spiral Building in Tokyo, the Yokohama City Hall, and 4 World Trade Center in New York. Maki’s architecture emphasizes light, transparency, and contextual harmony, integrating cutting-edge materials with human-scale environments. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (1993), he remains a leading figure in contemporary architecture, shaping urban spaces with elegance, innovation, and cultural sensitivity.

Dorte Mandrup (born 1961) is a Danish architect renowned for her contextual, sculptural designs that blend innovation with environmental sensitivity. Founder of Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter, she has led projects like the Wadden Sea Centre, the Icefjord Centre in Greenland, and the Trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage Partnership HQ. Her work is characterized by bold forms, sustainability, and deep respect for nature and cultural heritage. Mandrup challenges conventional approaches to architecture, creating immersive, place-specific experiences. A strong advocate for women in architecture, she continues to influence the field through progressive design, material experimentation, and a commitment to sustainability.

Thom Mayne (born 1944) is an American architect and founder of Morphosis, a firm known for its high-tech, deconstructivist approach to architecture. His groundbreaking projects include the Cooper Union Academic Building in New York, the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Hall at Cornell University. Mayne’s work is marked by complex geometries, bold materiality, and dynamic forms, pushing the boundaries of architecture and urban design. A recipient of the Pritzker Prize (2005), he is a leading voice in experimental, high-performance architecture, redefining modern urban landscapes with cutting-edge technology and structural innovation.

Richard Meier (born 1934) is an American architect known for his pristine white modernist buildings inspired by Le Corbusier’s purist forms. Founder of Richard Meier & Partners, his signature projects include the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Jubilee Church in Rome. Meier’s designs emphasize light, open spaces, and geometric precision, creating serene, sculptural environments. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (1984), his work has had a lasting impact on contemporary architecture, particularly in institutional and cultural buildings. Despite controversy in recent years, his architectural legacy remains influential in modernist aesthetics and urban design.

Konstantin Melnikov (1890–1974) was a Russian architect and one of the leading figures of Constructivism, known for his experimental, avant-garde designs. His most famous work, the Melnikov House in Moscow, features an innovative cylindrical form with hexagonal windows, showcasing his radical approach to space and geometry. Other notable projects include the Rusakov Workers’ Club and various Soviet pavilion designs. Despite his early success, Melnikov was later marginalized by Stalinist architectural policies and was forced to stop practicing. His visionary work, blending functionality, artistic abstraction, and structural innovation, remains a major influence in modern architecture and architectural theory.

Erich Mendelsohn (1887–1953) was a German architect known for his dynamic Expressionist and modernist designs, blending fluid, curvilinear forms with functionalist principles. His early masterpiece, the Einstein Tower, is an iconic expressionist observatory in Potsdam. Mendelsohn later embraced Streamline Moderne, designing buildings such as the Schocken Department Stores and the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. Fleeing Nazi Germany, he worked in England, Palestine, and the U.S., influencing international modernism. His visionary use of concrete, steel, and glass helped shape 20th-century architecture, bridging the gap between artistic expression and technical innovation.

Paulo Mendes da Rocha (1928–2021) was a Brazilian architect known for his bold, Brutalist approach to architecture, emphasizing raw concrete, structural innovation, and civic engagement. His most famous works include the Brazilian Pavilion at Expo 1970, the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) renovation, and the Patriarch Plaza. A key figure in Brazilian modernism, he advocated for architecture that was both monumental and deeply connected to its social and environmental context. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (2006) and the RIBA Gold Medal (2017), his legacy continues to influence contemporary Latin American architecture.

Pierre de Meuron (born 1950) is a Swiss architect and co-founder of Herzog & de Meuron, a globally acclaimed firm known for material experimentation and innovative urban architecture. Alongside Jacques Herzog, he has designed iconic projects such as the Tate Modern in London, the Beijing National Stadium ("Bird’s Nest"), and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. His work combines artistic expression with technological innovation, often transforming industrial spaces into cultural landmarks. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (2001), de Meuron continues to influence contemporary architecture, blending context-driven design with cutting-edge construction techniques.

Hannes Meyer (1889–1954) was a Swiss architect and urban planner known for his socially driven, functionalist approach to design. As the second director of the Bauhaus (1928–1930), he emphasized collective housing, affordability, and the integration of technology in architecture. His notable projects include the ADGB Trade Union School and the Petersschule in Basel. Meyer’s Marxist ideology led to his dismissal from the Bauhaus, after which he worked in the Soviet Union and Mexico, contributing to large-scale urban planning. His belief in architecture as a social service profoundly influenced modernist housing and functionalist urban development.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) was a German-American architect and a pioneer of modernist architecture, known for his "less is more" philosophy. As the last director of the Bauhaus, he refined an elegant, minimalist style, using glass, steel, and open-plan spaces. His masterpieces include the Barcelona Pavilion, the Seagram Building in New York, and the Farnsworth House. Mies’s work emphasized clarity, simplicity, and structural purity, influencing mid-century modernism. His teachings at the Illinois Institute of Technology helped shape generations of architects, solidifying his legacy as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century architecture.

Enric Miralles (1955–2000) was a Spanish architect celebrated for his dynamic, expressive designs that redefined contemporary architecture. Co-founder of EMBT, his notable works include the Scottish Parliament Building, the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona, and the Igualada Cemetery. Influenced by organic forms, Catalan traditions, and structural experimentation, Miralles created fluid, site-responsive architecture that embraced movement and complexity. His ability to merge historical context with playful, sculptural design made him a leading voice in postmodern architecture. Though his career was tragically short, his legacy endures through his innovative approach to materials, form, and spatial storytelling.

C. F. Møller (1898–1988) was a Danish architect and founder of C.F. Møller Architects, one of Scandinavia’s most influential architectural firms. His work, rooted in modernist and functionalist principles, emphasized simplicity, material honesty, and contextual harmony. His most famous project, the Aarhus University campus, remains a benchmark for Danish modernism, integrating architecture with the landscape. Møller’s legacy includes a wide range of educational, healthcare, and cultural buildings, reflecting his commitment to human-centric, sustainable design. His firm continues to shape Nordic architecture, maintaining his vision of functional, aesthetic, and socially conscious urban environments.

Rafael Moneo (born 1937) is a Spanish architect renowned for his context-driven, modernist designs that blend tradition with contemporary form. Winner of the Pritzker Prize (1996), his major works include the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida, the Kursaal Congress Centre in San Sebastián, and the Los Angeles Cathedral. Moneo emphasizes materiality, spatial clarity, and historical continuity, integrating architecture seamlessly into its surroundings. As an educator and theorist, he has influenced generations of architects, particularly through his tenure at Harvard GSD. His legacy lies in his thoughtful, timeless contributions to both European and global architecture.

Luigi Moretti (1907–1973) was an Italian architect known for his expressive modernism and sculptural approach to design. Initially associated with Fascist-era monumental architecture, he later embraced organic forms and parametric experimentation. His most famous works include the Casa delle Armi in Rome, the Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C., and the Il Girasole apartment building. Moretti’s architecture explored the intersection of structure, mathematics, and aesthetics, influencing later developments in computational design. His legacy, though complex, remains significant in shaping postwar modernism, blending rationalism with fluid, dynamic forms.

Julia Morgan (1872–1957) was a pioneering American architect and the first woman to earn an architecture degree from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She designed over 700 buildings, most notably Hearst Castle in California, which fused Spanish Revival with Beaux-Arts principles. Morgan was a master of reinforced concrete, making her buildings both structurally innovative and earthquake-resistant. Her designs ranged from residences to institutional projects, including numerous YWCA buildings. As one of America’s first prominent female architects, she paved the way for women in the profession, leaving a rich architectural legacy of elegance, craftsmanship, and engineering excellence.

Toshiko Mori (born 1951) is a Japanese-American architect known for her minimalist, research-driven approach that integrates innovation with cultural sensitivity. Founder of Toshiko Mori Architect, her notable projects include the Thread Artists’ Residency in Senegal, the FDR Four Freedoms Park Visitor Center, and the Cambridge Public Library expansion. A longtime professor at Harvard GSD, Mori has influenced architectural education and sustainable design. Her work explores the dialogue between traditional and contemporary materials, often incorporating transparency, natural light, and spatial fluidity. Her contributions to socially responsive and technologically advanced architecture continue to shape the field globally.

Farshid Moussavi (born 1965) is an Iranian-British architect and founder of Farshid Moussavi Architecture (FMA), known for her bold, research-led designs that challenge architectural conventions. Formerly a co-founder of Foreign Office Architects (FOA), she designed projects such as the Yokohama International Ferry Terminal and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland. Moussavi is also a prominent academic, teaching at Harvard GSD and authoring books on architectural theory. Her work explores aesthetics, function, and material innovation, making her a leading voice in contemporary design and urbanism, advocating for dynamic, adaptable spaces that engage with social and environmental contexts.