Michael Graves
Designer of Portland Building, introducing colorful, historical references to modernism.
Most quoted
"I believe that the design of buildings should be a reflection of the culture and the people who inhabit them."
— from Speech, 1995
"My work is about making connections – between past and present, inside and outside, people and place."
— from Book
"Architecture is not about building; it's about creating places for people to live, work, and dream."
— from Interview
All quotes by Michael Graves (99)
Form follows feeling, not just function.
Teapots are where I find my freedom; architecture can be too constraining.
Modernism stripped away the joy; postmodernism brought it back with a wink.
Every building tells a story; make sure it's one worth telling.
Disability opened my eyes to the invisible barriers in design.
The devil is in the details, but so is the delight.
Architecture is frozen music, but it should also dance.
I design for the poetry of space, not just the prose of utility.
Humor in architecture? Why not? Life is too serious without it.
The Humana Building was my love letter to the city of Louisville.
In the end, what matters is how a building makes you feel at home.
Context is king in architecture; ignore it at your peril.
My sketches are the soul before the body of the building takes form.
Postmodernism allowed us to play with history without being enslaved by it.
Design for all ages, all abilities— that's the real challenge.
A building without color is like a face without expression.
I always say, architecture should surprise and delight.
The Swan and Dolphin hotels were my whimsical escape into fantasy.
Life's curveballs taught me to design with resilience.
Ornament is the punctuation of architecture.
Contemporaries of Michael Graves
Other Architectures born within 50 years of Michael Graves (1934–2015).