I.M. Pei

Architecture Chinese-American 1917 – 2019 403 quotes

Louvre Pyramid, master of geometric forms

Most quoted

"I believe that architecture is an art, and that it is an art of space. It is not an art of form, it is not an art of structure, it is not an art of materials. It is an art of space."

— from Various interviews

"Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society."

— from Interview/Correspondence

"I believe that architecture is an art, a true art, and that it must be beautiful. It must be beautiful in its form, in its structure, and in its materials."

— from Letter to a colleague

All quotes by I.M. Pei (403)

Architecture is not an individual effort. It is a team sport.

Lecture

The purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance man's life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence.

Quoting Eero Saarinen

My approach is always to solve the problem. The aesthetics emerge from the solution.

Interview 1990