Our century is so fleeting that sometimes in everyday life we do not notice the things around us, including architectural objects. But sometimes it’s worth stopping and looking around to pay attention to the appearance of our cities. The appearance of modern cities in recent decades has acquired new forms and original buildings that harmoniously fit into historical buildings. And the outstanding architects of our time create the incredible beauty, which we will present in our article.
1
Frank Gehry
An outstanding architect born in Canadian Toronto. He stood at the origins of deconstructivism, and at the age of 60 he was awarded the Pritzker Prize for his contribution to the development of architecture.
Walt Disney Concert Hall. Project author: Frank Gehry
The American architect is changing the presumption that the appetite is about traditional architecture, and his creations are changing the established reality, breaking traditional forms.
The famous dancing house in Prague. Authors of the project: Frank Gehry, Vlado Milunich
Among his outstanding projects, the Frederick Weisman Museum in Minneapolis, built in 1993, as well as the unusual and magnificent Walt Diisney Concert Hall, erected in Los Angeles in 2003, should be noted.
2
Zaha Hadid
A prominent representative of deconstructivism, Zaha Hadid was born in Iraq, and her masterpieces of architecture were erected in different parts of our planet.
Business center Dominion Tower in Moscow. Posted by: Zaha Hadid
Its unusual and beautiful buildings can be seen in Marseille and Baku, Moscow and Madrid, Leipzig and Rome. Residents of Moscow know the building of the Business Center in the Dubrovka area, erected by the design of Zaha Hadid, which received the beautiful historical name “Relight Plaza”.
Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku
In 2004, she became the first woman architect in the world to receive the prestigious Pritzker Prize, and rightfully occupies a leading position in the ranking, which includes the best architects in the world.
3
Norman Foster
Young Norman learned all the secrets of architectural excellence at Yale University, and after graduation he began working with Richard Rogers. The Bureau of Four company, which they created, began to develop a high-tech style, the foundations of which were laid by the Russian architect Vladimir Shukhov.
Hurst Tower in Manhattan
The famous architect works around the world, creating projects of magnificent buildings of an unusual shape. In 2006, according to his project, the most beautiful Palace of Peace and Concord was erected in Astana, in St. Petersburg took part in the reconstruction of the architectural complex of New Holland.
Skyscraper Mary Ex in London
For his work, he received the Imperial Prize from the hands of the Queen, and was also awarded the Pritzker Prize and awards of many countries of the world.
4
Jean Nouvel
From early childhood, Jean dreamed of becoming an artist, but his parents insisted on getting a more serious profession, and after graduation, the young man studied architecture at the art schools in Bordeaux and Paris.
In the photo: Hotel Puerta America in Madrid
As a student, he opened his first architectural bureau, and began to successfully implement projects. Among his works is the building of the opera house in Lyon, a monumental shopping center in Lille.
Lyon Opera House
The real breakthrough of Jean was the design in the early 80s of the Institute of Arab Culture in Paris. In his piggy bank there are many prizes and awards, including the Pritzker Prize.
5
Jorn Utzon
A world-famous Danish architect has already entered the history of world architecture as an architect of the Sydney Opera House. And Jorn began his work with the design of buildings in large European cities.
In the photo: Sydney Opera House
Even such an ordinary building as a water tower on the island of Bornholm, according to the Utzon project, turned out to be a masterpiece of architecture and its first successful project.
National Assembly in Kuwait
For his work, Jorn Utzon was awarded numerous awards, among which the Order of Australia occupies a special place, because his opera house in Sydney has rightfully entered the list of the new “Seven Wonders of the World”.
6
Santiago Calatrava
Specialists note the aesthetics of Santiago’s architectural style as a “bio-tech,” which perfectly combines ultra-modern structural elements with traditional natural forms.
Peace Bridge in Calgary
The architect Santiago Calatrava began his career in Zurich. Where he combined work in an architectural bureau and an engineer, and eventually opened his own company in Paris.
Art Museum in Milwaukee, USA
In Russia, he is known as a talented sculptor and designer. In 2012, his exhibition was held at the Hermitage, which, according to many famous publications, has become the most visited architectural exhibition in the world.
7
Massimiliano Fuksas
This talented architect was born in Rome, but has Lithuanian roots, and also mothers along German lines. Studying at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of La Sapienza, he opened his own author's workshop, and began implementing his projects.
Shenzhen Bao'an Airport
Over time, Massimiliano Fuksas opened branches in Paris and Vienna, and his projects began to be implemented in many cities in Europe. His constant colleague is his wife, also an architect, both by profession and by vocation.
Part of the Fiera Milano Rho Building
It was this creative union that gave the world the beautiful and one of the largest buildings in Europe “Fiera Milano Rho” in Milan, the Zenit concert hall in Strasbourg, and tall twin towers in the Austrian capital.
8
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
The Austrian architect also became famous as a magnificent and talented painter, and his buildings became an adornment of many cities in the world.
Typical Hundertwasser facade: Hundertwasserhaus in Plochingen, Germany
All his life he embodied the principle that a person cannot live in monotonous box houses, and as he could, he adorned reality. The Austrian was often invited to embellish the streets and avenues of cities with his buildings. He worked in Austria, Germany, the USA and Japan, but he completed his creative and life journey in New Zealand.
Hot Springs, Bad Blumau (Austria)
The compatriots praised the activities of their famous countryman, and Friedensreich was awarded multiple awards, and was also an honorary professor at the Vienna Academy of Arts.
9
Arata Isozaki
The Japanese architect studied under the supervision of Kenzo Tange, the famous urban planner of the country of the Rising Sun, and in 1963 Arata had already opened his own company.
Art Tower in Mito (Ibaraki). Japan
Thanks to the creativity of the Japanese architect, stadiums, museums, and beautiful residential buildings were erected. He often uses abstract forms in his work, and today, perhaps, Arata Isozaki is the best representative of the metabolic style.
Weill Cornell College of Medicine in Qatar
Isozaki often visits Russia, he took part in the competition for the reconstruction of the Mariinsky Theater. Many note that the work of the Japanese was greatly influenced by the work of Malevich.
10
Lise Anne Couture
Today, a native of Canada, Liz Ann Couture, perhaps the most famous avant-garde architect. She was one of the founders of the Asymptot group.
The Yas Hotel in Abu Dhabi. UAE
Only two people work in the group, but it was Liz who became the ideological inspirer of the small architectural team. The group successfully implements projects around the world, and the theater building in Asura, as well as the Steel Cloud complex, became the most impressive buildings.
Theater building in Asura
Futuristic, on the verge of insanity projects have become real masterpieces of architecture, as well as the lucrative business of two American architects.
11
Kjetil Thorsen
In 1989, a Norwegian architect working in a variety of styles founded the company Snekhetta, naming it after the highest mountain in Norway.
Faculty of Fine Arts, Music and Design, University of Bergen
After implementing several successful projects, a group led by Thorsen filed documents for the restoration of the Alexandria Library in Egypt, and won the competition. After that, the company began to expand dramatically, and today has more than 120 designers.
Ryerson University Student Learning Center
When erecting buildings, Torsten always adheres to the principle of a harmonious combination of the erected building with the natural landscape. The architect himself often claims that architecture should be anonymous, like nature itself.
12
Joseph Frank
The outstanding architect of the twentieth century, Joseph Frank was born in Austria, but then moved to Sweden, where his remarkable architectural masterpieces were born.
The Swedish architect was one of the initiators of the creation of the Svenskt Tenn group, in which he worked until the end of his life. The designers of the group had a great influence on the development of modern styles in architecture and urban design.
Joseph Frank received many awards for his activities, and in 1965, in his homeland, he was awarded the Great State Award of Austria.
13
Philippe Starck
Philip was born in the family of an aircraft designer, maybe because he found his recognition in industrial design and the creation of cutting-edge interiors.
The Legendary Citrus Squeezer by Philippe Starck
Today the whole world knows his name, and its interiors adorn the world's best hotels, such as Royalton in New York and Sanderson in London. A talented architect and artist collaborates with Pierre Cardin and many of the world's leading fashion designers.
Alhondiga Cultural Entertainment Center in Bilbao
Philippe Starck took part in the development of the Xiaomi Mi Mix smartphone, and his design developments adorn the terraces of famous Parisian restaurants and hotels.
14
Adrian D. Smith
Another American architect became famous for being one of the authors of the project for the construction of the Burj Khalifa, resembling a huge stalagmite in its form.
Jeddah Tower. Saudi Arabia
Adrian works for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a company known worldwide for the design and construction of high-rise buildings. It was in this company that Endrian Smith's talent was revealed.
Jin Mao Skyscraper in Chinese Shanghai
In addition to the Dubai Tower project, he developed projects for the construction of one of the tallest buildings in the world - the Jeddah Tower, as well as the Jin Mao skyscraper in Shanghai Shanghai.
And thebiggest.ru already wrote an interesting article about the tallest buildings.
As you can see, the creations of modern architects have become real masterpieces of architecture of the 20-21 century, and new styles have greatly enriched architectural styles. The Pritzker Prize is considered a worldwide recognition in the field of architecture, and many of the architects on our list have been awarded this high contemporary award.
Article author: Valery Skiba