I.M. Pei

I am a Western architect, but I never forgot my Chinese roots.

Geometry is the language of architecture. But it must be a language that speaks to the heart.

The challenge is to reconcile the old and the new, to create a dialogue between them.

Architecture is not about building a monument. It is about creating a place for people.

Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.

The city is the greatest creation of mankind. Architecture must serve the city.

I don't like the word 'iconic.' It is overused. A building should be a good neighbor first.

In China, a garden is a microcosm of the universe. That idea has always stayed with me.

The triangle is a very stable form, both structurally and symbolically.

Architecture is the art of compromise. You compromise with the site, the client, the budget, the materials.

The best architecture comes from a synthesis of all the elements that separately comprise a building: structure, technology, light, shadow, space.

To create, one must first question everything.

The East Room of the National Gallery is my homage to the Pantheon in Rome.

A museum should be a place of learning and delight.

I am more interested in the void than the solid. It is the space within that gives life to the building.

Architecture is a dangerous profession. If a writer makes a mistake, you can burn his book. If an architect makes a mistake, you have to live with it.

The landscape is not just the setting for the building; it is part of the building.

Time is the most important critic. A building must stand the test of time.

I have spent my life searching for the essence of space.

The pyramid is a form that brings together the sky and the earth.