MANILA, Philippines – Who is the 20th century architect who greatly influenced American corporate and industrial architecture with landmark works like the Lever House, the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, and the curve-fronted office towers between 57th and 58th Streets in New York?
He was born on May 9, 1909 in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a master’s in architecture. He then traveled through Europe and North Africa on two separate traveling fellowships. Upon returning to the US, he obtained a position as chief designer at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, where he later became a partner.
His first great success was the Lever House in 1951 to 1952, the first really modern international style corporate headquarters in New York. Lever House set the standard in American architecture for at least five years, and was the model for the urban glass box architecture in the 1950s.
He later influenced American corporate and industrial architecture through his successful efforts to create an identifiable and respectful architectural identity for his clients. He persuaded corporations that contemporary American architecture could serve as a signature.
He generated buildings of contemporary classicism, avoiding fashion and concentrated on discipline and functional solutions that produce a unified design. In his work, he particularly emphasized the use of artwork, interior detailing, and furnishings as major features of each building.
He designed at a time when contemporary American architects were frantically searching for new architectural principles. Although somewhat conservative, his recent buildings have employed more daring and adventuresome forms and structures. As a leading architect of his time, he contributed classical, well-reasoned compositions.
Some of his most famous structures include the Istambul Hilton Hotel in Turkey, the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company Building, the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, the Beineike Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale university in 1965, the Marine Midland Building in New York, the Johnson Presidential Library in Texas; and his most criticized work, the curve fronted office towers between 57th and 58th streets in New York.
In 1955, he received the first prize for architecture from the National Academy of Design, and his long career was capped by his receipt of the Pritzker Prize in 1988.
His only single family residence is the 2,300-square-foot Travertine House, built for his own family. Upon his death in 1990, he left the house to MOMA, which sold it to Martha Stewart in 1995.
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Last week’s question: Identify this sculptor who has done many of the country’s beloved public art.
Answer: Eduardo “Ed” Castrillo
Winner: Lolita Q. Santos of Cavite City
Text your answer to 0917-9498721 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. They can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Call the store manager at 634-1950, 634-1943. Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.