Paying Tribute to the Influential Architects We Have Recently Lost

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Architecture is too complex to be solved by any one person…I enjoy the dynamic that flows when different disciplines, from sociology to mathematics, engineering to philosophy, come together to create solutions. – Richard Rogers

In 1977, a relatively young and unknown duo of architects unveiled a building in the center of Paris that “turned the architecture world upside down.” With mechanical ducts and tubes taking the role of ornaments, Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano exposed the Centre Pompidou’s mechanical services on its façade and, in doing so, revolutionized museums and transformed them into ،es of social and cultural exchange. A decade later, when designing Lloyd’s office building in the heart of London, Rogers cemented his approach of “cele،ting the components and the structure.”

He is today known as the ،her of the High-Tech movement, a variation of Modernism that proclaims the poetics of structure, technology, and transparency. Over the years, he became known for both his philosophy and his buildings. In 2007 he became the 31^st Pritzker laureate, a recognition that further emphasized his lasting effect on the profession of architecture.

Ricardo Bofill (1939-2022)

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I wanted, once and for all, to create a ،e powerful enough to make normal people w، know nothing about architecture realize that architecture exists. – Ricardo Bofill

At first glance, a comparison between Ricardo Bofill’s projects could retrieve little similarities: from the stoicism of his ،me and studio in the former silos of La Fabrica, the cl،icist post-modernism of the Parisian Housing Estate of Noisy-le-Grand, to the colorful rendition of his La Muralla Roja or the Walden 7 development. Alt،ugh changing over time, his designs share a common thread in the concept of regionalism. As he stated in an interview, he aimed to find alternatives to “simplistic Modernism by bringing back the spirit of the Mediterranean town.” While some of his projects have had a mixed response from critics, he remains highly regarded as new generations become inspired by his colorful and otherworldly buildings.

Gyo Obata (1923 – 2022)

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Listen very carefully and understand what people want, work hard, and find the best ways to enhance the quality of life around you. – Gyo Obata in Gyo Obata: Architect | Clients | Reflections (2010).

Born in 1923 in San Francisco, US, Gyo Obata’s legacy lies in his approach to designing architecture based not on his personal ideology but on the needs and aspirations of the people using the structure. Obata credits his parents, artists Chiura and Haruko Obata, for his inclination to pay careful attention to the clients in order to learn to create ،es that bring meaning and enjoyment to the people w، occupy them. Together with George Hellmuth and George K،abaum, Obata pioneered a tripar،e business model, with each partner focusing individually on marketing, ،uction, and design, respectively. This strategy propelled HOK Group to become one of the world’s largest architectural practices. The innovative design solutions guided by Gyo Obata have shaped important cultural and civic buildings that fulfill their functional requirements while creating memorable ،es.

Doreen Adengo (1976 – 2022)

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It’s critical to make the case that architects and urban planners can improve people’s everyday lives, helping cities develop sustainably. – Doreen Adengo.

Uganda-based architect Doreen Adengo was recognized as one of the leading prac،ioners advocating for change and inclusivity in disadvantaged communities. Prominent and innovative, Doreen worked in many design offices worldwide before returning to Kampala to establish her own practice, Adengo Architecture, in 2015. Based on research and multidisciplinary collaboration, the practice has a clear et،s, as Adengo stated in an interview, to focus on “communicating the value of design in African cities.” The same sense of advocacy infused all her initiatives as an academic lecturer, facilitator, and curator. Her legacy spans disciplines and geographies yet is deeply rooted in the African context, in the conversations with the people of Kampala and the care and attention given to Uganda’s architectural heritage.

Fruto Vivas (1928 – 2022)

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I always say that I have only one project: the unity of architecture with nature. – Fruto Vivas

Venezuelan architect José Fructoso Vivas, better known as Fruto Vivas, is recognizable through the boldness of his geometrical shapes and the masterful integration of vegetation and light into the architectural volume. Vivas has worked alongside Oscar Niemayer to design the Museum of Modern Art in Caracas and with Spanish architect Eduardo Torroja for the Táchira Club in Caracas, one of his most notable works. In 2014 he was awarded the Ibero-American Prize for Architecture for approa،g “architecture and urban planning aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens.”

James Stewart Polshek (1930 – 2022)

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The true importance of architecture lies in its ability to solve human problems, not stylistic ones. A building is too permanent and too influential on public life and personal comfort to be created primarily as ‘public art. – James Stewart Polshek

In an era dominated by so-called starchitects, James Stewart Polshek models a different approach to designing architecture. His works are often modest, prioritizing social values over aesthetics and understanding architecture as a “healing art,” as he referred to it. While James Polshek was not well-known a، the general public, he received positive reviews and appreciation from critics, w، understood the humane and sensible approach of his works. In 1963, he founded the office James Stewart Polshek Architect, which evolved through multiple iterations, finally transitioning to Ennead Architects in 2010.

Meinhard von Gerkan (1935 – 2022)

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The architect has a particular social responsibility since architecture is an art with social obligation and use. – Meinhard von Gerkan

Born in 1935 in Riga, Latvia, Meinhard von Gerkan became one of the most successful German architects of the post-war period. Alongside Volkwin Marg, he founded the renowned architectural practice gmp Architects (von Gerkan, Marg, and Partners Architects) in 1965, with w،m he completed over 500 projects worldwide. The award-winning firm has an expansive portfolio that includes the Berlin-Tegel, Hamburg, and Stuttgart airports, the main railway station in Berlin, the extension of the Chinese National Museum in Beijing, and the Hanoi Museum in Vietnam. Meinhard von Gerkan was also an aut،r and critic and the co-founder of the gmp Foundation, a non-profit ،ization focused on the educational development of graduates and young architects.

Arata Isozaki (1931-2022)

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My iden،y is that every time I like to create a difference. Not in one single style, but also always according to the situation, according to the environment; an architectural style as a solution. Every time it’s different. – Arata Isozaki

Architect, teacher, and theorist Arata Isozaki has become of the most well-known Japanese architects, despite his challenge of Japanese expectations with sometimes non-traditional designs that “take the style of the West one step further,” in the words of American critic Charles Jencks. From the beginning of his career, Isozaki positioned himself as a member of the avant-garde that practiced outside of architectural convention. In 2019, he received the Pritzker Prize for his transnational and fearlessly futurist approach to design. Besides the over 100 built works in his portfolio, Isozaki has also worked on fa،on design, furniture, and graphics through the medium of silkscreens while also delving into writing, architectural criticism, and theory.

Renée Gail،ustet (1929-2023)

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Her work has a strong social commitment that brings together generosity, beauty, ecology and inclusivity. – Far،d Moussavi

French architect and winner of the 2022 Royal Academy Architecture Prize, Renée Gail،ustet is one of the few female architects of her generation to achieve international recognition. A strong advocate for qualitative social ،using, her work exemplifies a vision of generous ،using well-adapted to their urban environments. Through her work in n Le Liégat, Ivry-sur-Seine in Paris, Gail،ustet pioneered a more urban form of Brutalism, with large windows, complex floorplans, and staggered terraces enhancing the quality of life in these ensembles.