ARCHITECTS / S

Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) was a Finnish-American architect who revolutionized modern architecture with his bold, sculptural forms and innovative engineering. His most iconic works include the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, and the Dulles International Airport Terminal, all of which showcase his visionary structural expression. Saarinen also designed corporate campuses for IBM and General Motors, shaping the modern office park. His career, though brief, left an indelible mark on mid-century modernism, influencing generations with his fusion of technology, functionality, and artistic fluidity.

Moshe Safdie (born 1938) has reshaped urban architecture through modular housing, civic spaces, and nature-integrated design. His breakthrough project, Habitat 67 in Montreal, pioneered prefabricated, high-density housing and remains an architectural landmark. Other signature works include the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum, and the Jewel Changi Airport. Safdie’s philosophy emphasizes light, connectivity, and cultural identity, making him a leader in adaptive urban planning. A recipient of the AIA Gold Medal (2015), his legacy continues to shape contemporary architecture with designs that balance innovation, sustainability, and human experience.

Rogelio Salmona (1929–2007) crafted a distinctive architectural language that fused modernism with Latin American traditions, particularly through his masterful use of brick and integration of public space. Trained under Le Corbusier, he later departed from rigid modernist forms, embracing organic geometry and regional craftsmanship. His most celebrated works include the Biblioteca Virgilio Barco, the Torres del Parque in Bogotá, and the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center. Salmona’s designs emphasized natural elements, social inclusivity, and urban harmony, influencing generations of architects in Colombia and beyond. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Alvar Aalto Medal (2003).

Carlo Scarpa (1906–1978) elevated architecture to an art form through his exquisite attention to detail and mastery of materials. His most renowned works include the Brion Cemetery, the Castelvecchio Museum renovation, and the Olivetti Showroom in Venice, all demonstrating his talent for blending modernism with historical sensitivity. Scarpa was deeply influenced by Venetian heritage and Japanese aesthetics, incorporating water, light, and handcrafted materials into his compositions. Though often overlooked during his lifetime, he is now celebrated for his precise, sculptural approach to space, which continues to inspire architects seeking a dialogue between craft and contemporary design.

Hans Scharoun (1893–1972) shaped modern architecture with his organic, human-centered designs that prioritized spatial fluidity and user experience. A leading proponent of Expressionism and postwar reconstruction, he designed the Berlin Philharmonie, celebrated for its innovative vineyard seating arrangement and dynamic acoustics. His other works, including the Charlottenburg Housing Estate and the German Embassy in Brasília, reflect his commitment to social and cultural integration. Rejecting rigid modernist formalism, Scharoun championed individualized, adaptive architecture that responded to both human needs and urban environments, influencing the evolution of late modernism and experimental spatial design.

Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky (1897–2000) made history as Austria’s first female architect and a pioneer in functional, social housing design. Best known for creating the Frankfurt Kitchen (1926)—a revolutionary prototype for modern, efficient kitchens—she played a key role in early Bauhaus-inspired housing projects. Her career focused on public housing, child-friendly spaces, and accessibility, particularly in postwar reconstruction efforts. A lifelong advocate for women in architecture and social equality, Schütte-Lihotzky’s work remains a cornerstone of modernist domestic design, influencing contemporary thinking on ergonomics, prefabrication, and urban planning well beyond her time.

Josep Lluís Sert (1902–1983) bridged modernism and Mediterranean traditions, bringing Le Corbusier’s principles into urban planning and cultural architecture. As a key figure in the Spanish Rationalist movement, he designed the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, the Harvard Science Center, and the Peabody Terrace housing complex. Exiled during Franco’s regime, Sert became Dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, influencing generations of architects. His work combined bold geometric forms with climate-responsive solutions, emphasizing public space, sunlight, and human-scale urbanism. Through his architectural and academic contributions, Sert helped shape the postwar modernist landscape.

Brigitte Shim (born 1958) has redefined Canadian contemporary architecture with her sensitive, context-driven designs that integrate sustainability, craft, and landscape. As co-founder of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, she has created acclaimed projects like the Integral House in Toronto, the Lake Kawagama Retreat, and the Laneway House. Her work is characterized by precise detailing, material richness, and a deep connection to nature, often blending wood, concrete, and steel to achieve warm, immersive environments. A longtime professor at the University of Toronto, Shim continues to influence the next generation of architects, promoting an architecture that is both ecologically responsible and experientially profound.

Liang Sicheng (1901–1972) was a pioneering Chinese architect and historian who played a crucial role in preserving and documenting China’s ancient architectural heritage. A founder of modern Chinese architectural studies, he authored the first comprehensive history of Chinese architecture and contributed to the design of the national emblem of China. His work in historic preservation, particularly saving Beijing’s imperial city structures, was instrumental in shaping China’s approach to conservation and urban planning. Despite political struggles, his legacy endures through his scholarship and advocacy for blending tradition with modern development, influencing generations of architects and historians.

Claudio Silvestrin (born 1954) has shaped contemporary minimalism with his philosophy of purity, simplicity, and timeless elegance. His designs—spanning residential, retail, and cultural spaces—include the Giorgio Armani flagship stores, the Princes Court in London, and private villas worldwide. Silvestrin’s architecture focuses on monolithic forms, natural materials, and a serene spatial experience, rejecting excess in favor of calm and clarity. By emphasizing space, proportion, and craftsmanship, he has influenced luxury and minimalist design globally. His work stands as a testament to the power of architectural restraint, elevating simplicity into a philosophical and sensory experience.

Álvaro Siza (born 1933) has redefined Portuguese modernism with his subtle, poetic approach to architecture that seamlessly integrates with its surroundings. His most celebrated works include the Boa Nova Tea House, the Church of Santa Maria, and the Iberê Camargo Foundation in Brazil. Siza’s architecture is marked by clean lines, sculptural fluidity, and a deep sensitivity to light and materiality. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (1992), his work embodies an elegant yet pragmatic approach that harmonizes tradition with contemporary design. Through his designs, Siza continues to inspire architects seeking a timeless, context-driven approach to modern architecture.

Alison (1928–1993) and Peter Smithson (1923–2003) transformed postwar architecture with their brutalist, socially engaged designs that challenged conventional urban planning. As leading figures of Team 10, they rejected rigid modernist principles in favor of human-centered, adaptable environments. Their most notable works, including the Hunstanton School, the Robin Hood Gardens housing estate, and the Economist Building in London, aimed to create meaningful social spaces within urban landscapes. Though their ideas were often controversial, their influence on brutalism, urban theory, and architectural education remains profound, shaping the discourse on community-driven modernism and public housing.

Alejandro de la Sota (1913–1996) was a visionary of Spanish modernism, known for his rational, lightweight, and structurally expressive designs. His most influential works include the Maravillas Gymnasium in Madrid, the Civil Government Building in Tarragona, and the Domus Museum in A Coruña. De la Sota’s architecture balanced industrial efficiency with spatial elegance, often using prefabrication and minimal materials to achieve a sense of lightness and clarity. His influence extends beyond his built projects, as his teaching and theoretical contributions have shaped generations of architects, reinforcing a legacy of precision, simplicity, and architectural rigor.

Eduardo Souto de Moura (born 1952) has built a career on refined minimalism, material authenticity, and contextual harmony. A protégé of Álvaro Siza, he developed a distinct architectural voice through projects such as the Braga Municipal Stadium, the Paula Rego Museum, and the Burgo Tower in Porto. His buildings emphasize geometric precision, local materials, and a subtle integration with the landscape. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (2011), Souto de Moura’s work demonstrates how modernist principles can coexist with historical and regional influences, creating timeless, contemplative spaces that feel both monumental and intimately connected to their surroundings.

James Stirling (1926–1992) reshaped postwar architecture with his bold, geometric, and playful designs that bridged modernism and postmodernism. His early works, including the Engineering Building at Leicester University and the Florey Building at Oxford, pushed the boundaries of functionalism with expressive forms. Later, he embraced historical references, seen in projects like the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart and the Tate Britain extension. Stirling’s work was often controversial, but his impact on high-tech and postmodern architecture was undeniable. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (1981), he remains a pivotal figure in redefining architectural aesthetics and urban engagement.

Gunta Stölzl (1897–1983) revolutionized textile design as the first and only female Bauhaus master, elevating weaving to an art form that blended craft, color theory, and modernist abstraction. Her innovative work at the Bauhaus Weaving Workshop led to groundbreaking textile patterns that influenced both interior and industrial design. Forced to leave Germany due to political pressures, she later founded her own studio in Switzerland, continuing to push the boundaries of textile innovation. Stölzl’s legacy endures through her bold compositions and technical advancements, cementing her place as a pioneer in modernist textile and industrial design.

Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) is celebrated as the father of the skyscraper and a pioneer of early American modernism, whose philosophy of “form follows function” shaped the future of architecture. His iconic works, including the Wainwright Building, the Guaranty Building, and the Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. store, featured ornamented yet structurally expressive facades. Sullivan’s influence extended through his protégé Frank Lloyd Wright, impacting the Prairie School movement. Despite financial struggles late in life, his architectural ideals became fundamental to 20th-century skyscraper design, proving that aesthetic elegance and structural logic could coexist harmoniously.