A commercial architect is a professional who designs and oversees the construction of buildings and spaces for commercial purposes, such as offices, shops, restaurants, hotels, and factories. Commercial architects must consider the client’s needs and preferences, the business’s type and function, the customers’ behavior and expectations, and the regulations and codes that apply to the project. A commercial architect works with designers, engineers, contractors, and other specialists to create and execute a design plan that meets the project’s goals and requirements. The best commercial architects in history are Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, and Zaha Hadid. Norman Foster is a British architect who is the founder and chairman of Foster + Partners, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious architectural firms. He is known for his high-tech, eco-friendly designs incorporating advanced engineering and materials. Some of his iconic works include the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Reichstag dome, the Apple Park, and the Millau Viaduct. He is a recipient of the Pritzker Prize, the Stirling Prize, and the RIBA Gold Medal. Frank Gehry is a Canadian-American architect who founded Gehry Partners, a firm specializing in expressive and sculptural buildings that challenge the conventions of architecture. He is famous for using deconstructivism, a style that unexpectedly breaks down and reassembles forms. His famous works include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Louis Vuitton Foundation, and the Dancing House. He also won the Pritzker Prize, the Praemium Imperiale, and the AIA Gold Medal. Zaha Hadid was a British-Iraqi architect who was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Prize, the highest honor in architecture. She was known for her neo-futuristic designs that featured dynamic curves, geometric shapes, and expressive forms. Some of her iconic works include the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Guangzhou Opera House, the London Aquatics Centre, and the MAXXI Museum. She also received the Stirling Prize, the RIBA Gold Medal, and the Praemium Imperiale.
1. Norman Foster
Norman Foster is a British commercial architect known for his sleek modern buildings made of steel and glass. He is one of the most influential and prolific architects of the 20th and 21st centuries and has received many awards and honors for his work. He is also a pioneer of sustainable design and urban planning. Norman Foster was born in Manchester, England, in 1935. He grew up in a working-class family and developed an interest in architecture and engineering at an early age. He studied architecture at the University of Manchester and then won a scholarship to Yale University in the United States, where he earned a master’s degree in architecture. He returned to England in 1963 and founded his practice, Foster Associates, which later became Foster and Partners.
Norman Foster has designed many iconic buildings and structures, such as the Hong Kong International Airport, the Reichstag in Berlin, the Millennium Bridge in London, the Hearst Tower in New York, the Gherkin in London, the Apple Park in California, and the Millau Viaduct in France. He has also created master plans for cities and regions, such as Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, Thames Hub in the UK, and the Greater Bay Area in China. Norman Foster has promoted the concepts of sustainability, ecology, and social responsibility in his projects. He has influenced and inspired many other architects and designers, such as Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers, and Thomas Heatherwick. He has also been involved in education and philanthropy, teaching at various universities and supporting various causes and charities. He is the founder and president of the Norman Foster Foundation, which aims to foster interdisciplinary thinking and research in architecture, design, and urbanism.
2. Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry is a Canadian-American commercial architect known for his innovative and unconventional designs. He is one of the most influential and celebrated architects of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He has been awarded many prestigious prizes, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Royal Gold Medal. Frank Gehry is often associated with the style of deconstructivism, which challenges the traditional forms and aesthetics of architecture. He uses complex geometries, curving shapes, and diverse materials to create dynamic and expressive structures. He also employs advanced computer software to design and engineer his buildings. Gehry was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1929. He moved to Los Angeles, California, with his family in 1947, becoming a naturalized US citizen. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California and city planning at Harvard University. He worked for several architectural firms before establishing his practice in 1962.
Frank Gehry’s breakthrough project was his house in Santa Monica, California, which he renovated in 1978. He transformed a conventional bungalow into a collage of metal, wood, glass, and chain-link fence. The house attracted attention and controversy for its radical appearance and inspired Gehry to experiment further with his designs. Some of Frank Gehry’s most famous works include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which opened in 1997 and became a symbol of the city’s cultural and economic revival; the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California, which opened in 2003 and is acclaimed for its acoustics and aesthetics; the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, France, which opened in 2014 and is a museum and cultural center housed in a glass structure resembling a sailboat; and the National Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C., which opened in 2020 and is a tribute to the 34th president of the United States.
3. Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid was a British-Iraqi commercial architect, artist, and designer known for her innovative and influential designs. She was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most prestigious architectural award, in 2004. She was also the first woman to be awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2016. She was widely regarded as one of the greatest architects of the 21st century and a pioneer of deconstructivism and parametricism. Zaha Hadid was born in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 31, 1950. She grew up in a wealthy, progressive family that encouraged her education and creativity. She studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut before moving to London in 1972 to study architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. She graduated in 1977 and joined the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), where she worked with Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis. She opened her practice, Zaha Hadid Architects, in 1980 and soon gained international recognition for her visionary and radical projects.
Zaha Hadid’s works spanned across various scales and types, from furniture and interiors to skyscrapers and masterplans. She designed over 1,000 structures in over 40 countries, many of which have become iconic landmarks and cultural symbols. Some of her most famous works include the Vitra Fire Station in Germany (1993), the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati (2003), the Guangzhou Opera House in China (2010), the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics (2011), the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan (2012), and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul (2014). She also designed several unbuilt or unfinished projects, such as the Peak in Hong Kong (1983), the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales (1994), and the Tokyo Olympic Stadium in Japan (2016). Zaha Hadid contributed to the field of architecture by introducing new forms, techniques, and concepts that challenged the conventional and the static. She used advanced digital technologies, such as computer-aided design and fabrication, to create complex geometries expressing movement and fluidity. She also experimented with different materials, such as concrete, steel, glass, and composite, to create expressive and sculptural structures that integrated with their environment. She was inspired by various sources, such as nature, art, mathematics, and science, and sought to create a dialogue between architecture and its context, culture, and users.
Zaha Hadid died on March 31, 2016, in Miami, Florida, U.S., from a heart attack. She was 65 years old. She left behind a legacy of groundbreaking and inspiring works that have influenced and transformed the field of architecture and beyond. She was also a role model and a mentor for many young architects, especially women, who aspire to follow in her footsteps and achieve their dreams. She was celebrated and honored by many institutions, publications, and organizations, and her works have been exhibited and published widely. She was posthumously awarded several prizes, such as the Brit Awards statuette 2017. She is remembered as one of the most original, creative, and influential architects of all time.
4. I.M. Pei
I.M. Pei was a Chinese-American commercial architect known for his modernist style and use of geometric forms and natural elements. He was born in Guangzhou, China, in 1917 and moved to the United States in 1935 to study architecture. He graduated from MIT and Harvard, where he was influenced by the Bauhaus movement and its founder, Walter Gropius. He worked for a real estate developer in New York before establishing his firm in 1955. I.M. Pei designed many iconic buildings worldwide, such as the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. He also designed cultural and educational institutions, such as the John F. Kennedy Library in Massachusetts, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio, and the Miho Museum in Japan. He was praised for his sensitivity to the context and history of each site and his ability to create harmony between the old and the new.
I.M. Pei received many awards and honors, including the Pritzker Prize in 1983, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993, the Royal Gold Medal in 2010, and the UIA Gold Medal in 2014. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the French Academy of Fine Arts, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. I.M. Pei contributed to the development of architecture by introducing new forms and materials, such as glass, steel, and concrete, and experimenting with different geometries and structures, such as pyramids, cubes, and triangles. He also integrated elements of nature and light into his buildings, creating functional and aesthetic spaces. He was inspired by various cultures and traditions, such as Islamic, Chinese, and European, and he sought to express their essence and spirit in his architecture.
5. Rem Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas is a Dutch commercial architect, urbanist, and writer known for his innovative and provocative designs and theories. He founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), a global firm that has created many iconic buildings and master plans worldwide. He is also a professor at Harvard University and a prolific author of books and essays on architecture and urbanism. Rem Koolhaas is often considered a modernist or a deconstructivist architect, but he does not adhere to any single style or movement. He prefers to explore different ideas and concepts in each project, sometimes challenging the conventions and expectations of architecture. He is also interested in the contemporary city’s social, cultural, and political aspects and how architecture can respond to them.
Rem Koolhaas was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on November 17, 1944. He spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, where his father was a cultural advisor. He returned to the Netherlands in 1955 and later studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and Cornell University in New York. He also worked as a journalist and a screenwriter before founding OMA in 1975. Rem Koolhaas is regarded as one of his generation’s most influential and original architects. He has received many prestigious awards, including the Pritzker Prize in 2000, the Praemium Imperiale in 2003, the Royal Gold Medal in 2004, and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale 2010. He has also been named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2008 and one of the 25 most influential people in the world of architecture by the Architectural Digest in 2016.
Rem Koolhaas has designed many key works that have shaped the architectural discourse and practice of the 21st century. His most notable projects include the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, the Seattle Central Library, the Casa da Musica in Porto, the Netherlands Embassy in Berlin, the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow, and the Qatar National Library. He has also curated exhibitions, such as the 2014 Venice Biennale, and written influential books, such as Delirious New York, S, M, L, XL, and Elements of Architecture.
6. Jean Nouvel
Jean Nouvel is a French commercial architect known for his experimental and innovative designs that often challenge the conventional boundaries of architecture. He was born on August 12, 1945, in Fumel, France, and studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He has worked on over 200 projects in various countries and continents, creating diverse and distinctive buildings that reflect their context and culture. Jean Nouvel is considered a legend in the field of architecture because he has won many prestigious awards and honors for his work, such as the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Wolf Prize in Arts, the Praemium Imperiale, and the Pritzker Prize, which is often regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture. He has also been recognized by several museums and institutions that have exhibited his work and organized retrospectives of his career.
Some of Jean Nouvel’s key works include the Arab World Institute in Paris (1987), which features a dynamic facade of mechanical lenses that adjust to the sunlight; the Torre Agbar in Barcelona (2005), which is a cylindrical skyscraper inspired by the shape of a geyser and the colors of Catalan ceramics; the Louvre Abu Dhabi (2017), which is a museum complex covered by a giant dome that creates a rain of light effect; and the National Museum of Qatar (2019), which is a sprawling structure that mimics the shape of desert roses. Jean Nouvel has contributed to architecture by creating original and innovative designs that challenge the norms and expectations of the discipline. He has also been involved in social and environmental issues, such as promoting cultural diversity, preserving heritage, and designing sustainable buildings. He has also been a mentor and a collaborator for many young and emerging architects, a critic, and an architecture theorist.
7. Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano is an Italian commercial architect and artist known for his distinctive style of white geometric buildings and his influence on modernism. He was born in Genoa, Italy, on October 12, 1934, and studied architecture at Cornell University. He established his firm in New York in 1963 and became one of the leading figures of the New York Five, a group of architects who advocated for pure forms and rational design. Renzo Piano’s architecture is characterized by clarity, simplicity, and harmony. He often uses white as the dominant color and employs grids, planes, and volumes to create elegant and expressive structures. He is inspired by the works of Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright but also incorporates his artistic vision and sensibility. He has designed various buildings in different countries and contexts, such as museums, churches, city halls, libraries, residences, and offices.
Renzo Piano has received many awards and honors for his achievements in architecture, including the Pritzker Prize in 1984, the RIBA Gold Medal in 1989, the Sonning Prize in 2009, the AIA Gold Medal in 2008, and the Kyoto Prize in 1990. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects. He has been recognized as one of the most influential architects of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his works have been widely exhibited and published. Renzo Piano’s key works include the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (with Richard Rogers, 1977), the Shard in London (2012), the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York (2015), the Menil Collection in Houston (1987), the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea (1998), and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens (2016). He has also designed furniture, sculptures, paintings, and collages, demonstrating his versatility and creativity as an artist. He has collaborated with other artists, such as Frank Stella and Elaine Lustig Cohen, and has taught and lectured at various universities and institutions.
Renzo Piano has contributed to the development and evolution of architecture by creating original and innovative works that reflect his vision and philosophy. He has also influenced and inspired many other architects and designers who have adopted or adapted his style and principles. He has enriched the cultural and aesthetic landscape of the cities and places where his buildings are located and has enhanced the quality and experience of the spaces he has created.
8. Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava is a Spanish-Swiss commercial architect, engineer, sculptor, and painter known for his innovative and expressive designs combining art and technology. He has created iconic structures worldwide, such as bridges, museums, stadiums, railway stations, and towers, often resembling living organisms or natural forms. Calatrava is considered a neo-futurist architect, meaning that he uses advanced materials and techniques to create dynamic and visionary buildings that reflect the spirit of the modern age. His background also influences his style in engineering and sculpture, as he integrates structural and aesthetic elements in his projects. He often uses white concrete, steel, and glass as his main materials and creates organic shapes inspired by birds, fish, plants, and human anatomy.
Calatrava was born on 28 July 1951 in Benimamet, a former municipality near Valencia, Spain. He grew up in Valencia and studied architecture and urbanism at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, graduating in 1974. He also studied fine arts and published two books on the vernacular architecture of Valencia and Ibiza. In 1975, he moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where he obtained a second degree in civil engineering and a doctorate in architecture from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He established his architectural firm in Zurich in 1981 and later opened offices in Paris, Valencia, New York, Doha, and Dubai. He became a Swiss citizen in 1990 and currently lives and works in Zurich. Calatrava is considered a legend in the field of architecture and engineering, as he has received many awards and honors for his work, such as the Gold Medal of the Institute of Structural Engineers, the AIA Gold Medal, the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, the European Prize for Architecture and the Leonardo da Vinci Medal. He has also been appointed to the Pontifical Council of Culture by Pope Benedict XVI and has received 13 honorary doctorates from various universities. His work has been exhibited in many museums and galleries worldwide, and he has also created sculptures and paintings that complement his architectural vision.
Some of Calatrava’s key works include the Alamillo Bridge in Seville, Spain (1987-1992), which is a cable-stayed bridge with a single leaning pylon that resembles a harp; the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece (2001-2004), which consists of a stadium with a retractable roof and a velodrome with a tensile structure; the Turning Torso tower in Malmö, Sweden (1999-2005), which is a residential skyscraper that twists 90 degrees along its height; the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City, USA (2003-2016), which is a transit station with a winged canopy that opens and closes; and the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2010-2015), which is a science museum with a cantilevered roof that extends over the water. Calatrava has contributed to the field of architecture and engineering by creating original and innovative structures that challenge the conventional boundaries of form and function. He has also demonstrated architecture’s artistic and expressive potential by using his buildings to communicate his ideas and emotions. He has also inspired many other architects and engineers to explore new possibilities and solutions for the built environment.
9. Bjarke Ingels
Bjarke Ingels is a Danish commercial architect, founder, and creative partner of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a global architecture and design firm. He is known for his innovative and unconventional designs that challenge architecture’s traditional forms and aesthetics. He has been described as a visionary and a leader in sustainable and socially conscious architecture. Bjarke Ingels studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura in Barcelona. He graduated in 1999 and worked for Rem Koolhaas at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam until 2001. He then returned to Copenhagen and co-founded PLOT Architects with Julien de Smedt, a former colleague at OMA. In 2005, he established his practice, BIG, which now has offices in Copenhagen, New York, London, Barcelona and Shenzhen.
Bjarke Ingels has designed and built many projects worldwide, from residential buildings and cultural institutions to urban masterplans and landscapes. Some of his most famous works include the VM Houses and the Mountain Dwellings in Copenhagen, the Danish Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010, the 8 House and the CopenHill waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope on its roof in Copenhagen, the VIA 57 West and the 2 World Trade Center in New York, the LEGO House in Billund, the Amager Bakke waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen, the Serpentine Pavilion 2016 in London, the Tirpitz Museum in Blåvand, the Audemars Piguet Museum in Le Brassus, the Twist Museum in Kistefos, and the National Library of Kazakhstan in Astana. Bjarke Ingels has contributed to architecture by creating functional and playful designs, integrating ecology and economy, and responding to the local context and global challenges. He has also used advanced technology and collaboration to realize his visions and to communicate his ideas to the public. He has published several books, such as Yes Is More, Hot to Cold, and Formgiving, and has given numerous lectures and interviews. He has also been featured in documentaries like Big Time and Abstract: The Art of Design.
10. Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando is a self-taught commercial architect from Japan who is known for his minimalist and concrete buildings that blend with the natural environment. He is one of the world’s most influential and respected architects and has won many prestigious awards, such as the Pritzker Prize in 1995. He is also a painter and sculptor who expresses his artistic vision through architecture and artwork. Ando was born in Osaka, Japan, on September 13, 1941. He grew up in a post-war Japan undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization. From a young age, he was interested in architecture and visited many famous buildings in Japan and abroad. He also worked as a boxer and a truck driver before pursuing architecture as a career. He did not attend any formal architecture school but studied by himself and took correspondence courses. He established his architectural firm in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1981 and later opened offices in Paris, France, New York, USA, Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, UAE. He became a Swiss citizen in 1990 and currently lives and works in Zurich.
Ando has a distinctive style that is characterized by the use of concrete, geometric forms, natural light, and open spaces. He often incorporates Japanese culture and Zen philosophy elements in his designs, such as simplicity, harmony, and spirituality. He also pays attention to his projects’ environmental and social aspects and tries to create sustainable and respectful buildings of the context and the people. Some of Ando’s key works include the Church of the Light in Ibaraki, Japan (1989), which is a simple chapel with a cross-shaped opening that allows the sunlight to enter; the Rokko Housing in Kobe, Japan (1983-1999), which is a complex of residential units that adapt to the steep slope of the mountain; the Chichu Art Museum in Naoshima, Japan (2004), which is an underground museum that displays artworks by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria; the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis, USA (2001), which is a museum and a cultural center that integrates art and architecture; and the 4×4 House in Kobe, Japan (2003), which is a four-story house that measures four meters by four meters and has a spiral staircase.
Ando has contributed to the field of architecture by creating original and expressive buildings that challenge the conventional boundaries of form and function. He has also demonstrated architecture’s artistic and creative potential, as he uses his buildings as a medium to communicate his ideas and emotions. He has also explored new possibilities and solutions for the built environment and experimented with different materials, techniques, and forms. He has also collaborated with artists such as Issey Miyake, Antony Gormley, and Lang Lang to create interdisciplinary projects combining architecture, fashion, sculpture, and music.
11. Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers was a British-Italian commercial architect known for his modernist and constructivist designs in high-tech architecture. He was born in Florence, Italy, on 23 July 1933 and died in London, England, on 18 December 2021. He moved to England with his family in 1938 to escape the Fascist regime and the anti-Jewish laws in Italy. He studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and the Yale School of Architecture in the United States. Richard Rogers revolutionized the field of architecture with his innovative and expressive use of structural and mechanical elements. He exposed the functional components of his buildings, such as pipes, ducts, and steel frames, and celebrated them as aesthetic features. He also used bright colors and transparent materials to create dynamic and playful spaces. He was influenced by the ideas of modernist architects such as Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Buckminster Fuller. Richard Rogers’s great accomplishment was the design of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, which he co-designed with the Italian architect Renzo Piano. The Pompidou Centre was a cultural complex that housed a museum of modern art, a public library, and a music and acoustic research center. It was completed in 1977 and became an icon of contemporary architecture. The building was designed as a flexible and adaptable structure, with its services and circulation systems exposed on the exterior. The Pompidou Centre was praised for its originality and functionality and attracted millions of visitors.
Richard Rogers’s awards included the RIBA Gold Medal in 1985, the Thomas Jefferson Medal in 1999, the Praemium Imperiale in 2000, the Stirling Prize in 2006 and 2009, the Minerva Medal in 2007, and the Pritzker Prize in 2007. He was also knighted in 1991 and made a life peer in 1996. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Chartered Society of Designers, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. He received honorary degrees from several universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Yale. Richard Rogers’s key works included the Lloyd’s Building in London (1986), the Millennium Dome in Greenwich (1999), the European Court of Human Rights building in Strasbourg (1995), the Madrid-Barajas Airport terminal 4 in Spain (2006), the Heathrow Terminal 5 in London (2008), and the Senedd building in Cardiff (2006). He also worked on urban planning projects, such as the Towards an Urban Renaissance Report 1999 and the Grand Paris Vision 2009. He founded his architectural practice, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, in 1977 and retired in 2020.
12. Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron is a Swiss commercial architecture firm founded by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron in 1978. They are known for designing some of the world’s most iconic and innovative buildings, such as the Tate Modern in London, the Beijing National Stadium, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. They are considered one of the leading firms of contemporary architecture and have received many prestigious awards and honors, such as the Pritzker Prize, the Royal Gold Medal, and the Praemium Imperiale. Herzog and de Meuron studied architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, where they graduated in 1975. They also taught at ETH Zurich from 1999 to 2018 and co-founded ETH Studio Basel, a research and teaching platform for urban design. They have also visited professors at Harvard University, Cornell University, and other institutions. They are based in Basel, Switzerland, but have offices in Berlin, Munich, New York, San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong.
Herzog and de Meuron’s great accomplishments are creating both expressive and contextual buildings, reflecting their users’ and communities’ culture and identity, and enhancing the quality and beauty of the urban environment. They have designed over 600 projects in 40 countries, ranging from cultural, social, and corporate buildings to master plans and urban interventions. They use various materials, forms, and techniques and do not have a fixed signature style but adapt their designs to each client and site’s specific needs and desires. Herzog and de Meuron have contributed to the field of architecture in many ways. They are prolific writers and lecturers, sharing their insights and visions with students, professionals, and the public. They are mentors and collaborators, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence in their firm, which has over 400 employees. They are leaders and innovators, serving as members of various boards and committees, such as the Pritzker Architecture Prize jury and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture steering committee. They are also involved in social and environmental projects, such as the Urban Vision for Mãe Luíza in Brazil, which aims to improve a low-income neighborhood’s living conditions and infrastructure.
13. César Pelli
César Pelli was an Argentine-American commercial architect who designed some of the world’s tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. He was widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s preeminent architects. Pelli was a modernist architect who used various materials, forms, and contexts to create buildings that were sensitive to their surroundings and responsive to their functions. He did not have a personal signature style but adapted his designs to each client and site’s needs and desires. Pelli was born on October 12, 1926, in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina. He studied architecture at the National University of Tucumán and graduated in 1949. He moved to the United States in 1952 to attend the University of Illinois School of Architecture, where he received his Master of Science in Architecture degree in 1954. He became a naturalized citizen in 1964. He married Diana Balmori, a landscape architect, and had two children, Denis and Rafael, who also became architects. He lived and worked in various cities, including Bloomfield Hills, Los Angeles, New Haven, and New York. He died on July 19, 2019, in New Haven, Connecticut.
Pelli’s great accomplishment was to design iconic and integrated buildings that expressed their users’ and communities’ aspirations and identities and enhanced the urban environment’s quality and beauty. He designed over 300 projects in over 20 countries, including skyscrapers, museums, airports, libraries, theaters, academic buildings, and civic centers. Some of his most notable buildings are the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the World Financial Center in New York City, the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco, the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, the National Museum of Art in Osaka, and the Torre de Cristal in Madrid. Pelli contributed to the field of architecture in many ways. He was a prolific writer and lecturer, sharing his insights and visions with students, professionals, and the public. He was a mentor and collaborator, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence in his firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, which he founded in 1977. He was a leader and innovator, serving as the dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1977 to 1984 and as a member of various boards and committees, such as the Pritzker Architecture Prize jury and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture steering committee. He also received numerous honors and awards, such as the AIA Gold Medal, the Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and the Praemium Imperiale.
14. Daniel Libeskind
Daniel Libeskind is a Polish-American commercial architect, artist, professor, and set designer. He is known for introducing complex ideas and emotions into his designs, often with a striking angularity that seems to defy gravity. He is considered a key proponent of deconstructivism, a style of postmodern architecture characterized by fragmentation and distortion. Libeskind was born in Łódź, Poland, in 1946 to Polish Jews and Holocaust survivors. He first studied music at the Łódź Conservatory and then moved to New York City in 1960 on a music scholarship. He later switched to architecture and graduated from the Cooper Union in 1970. He also received a postgraduate degree in history and theory of architecture from the University of Essex in 1972.
Libeskind’s first major project was the Jewish Museum Berlin, which opened in 2001. The museum is a zigzagging structure that symbolizes the history and culture of the Jewish people in Germany. The museum also features a series of voids and empty spaces that represent the absence and loss caused by the Holocaust. The museum received international acclaim and established Libeskind as a leading architect. Libeskind has designed many other notable buildings around the world, such as the extension to the Denver Art Museum, the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin, the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the One World Trade Center master plan in New York, and the Reflections residential complex in Singapore. His work spans various types and scales, from museums and cultural centers to skyscrapers and urban developments.
15. Moshe Safdie
Moshe Safdie is a famous commercial architect, urban planner, educator, theorist, and author. He was born in Haifa, Israel, on July 14, 1938. He moved to Canada with his family when he was 15 years old. He studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal and developed his thesis project, Habitat 67, which became a landmark of the 1967 World Expo. Safdie is known for his innovative and socially responsible design philosophy, which aims to create humanistic and sustainable environments that respond to the cultural, historical, and environmental context. He has designed many iconic buildings and master plans around the world, such as the Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem, and the Virasat-e-Khalsa in India.
Safdie has received many awards and honors for his contributions to architecture and society, such as the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Gold Medal from both the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the American Institute of Architects, the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian, and the Wolf Prize in Architecture. He has also been a professor at Harvard, Yale, McGill, and Ben-Gurion University. He has written several books and articles on architecture and urbanism. Safdie is still active and working on various projects around the world. He is the founder and principal of Safdie Architects, a global practice based in Boston, Massachusetts, with offices in Jerusalem, Singapore, and Shanghai. He holds citizenship in Israel, Canada, and the United States. He lives with his wife, Michal Ronnen, a photographer and artist, and has four children and nine grandchildren.
16. Fumihiko Maki
Fumihiko Maki is a Japanese commercial architect who teaches at Keio University SFC. He is a Pritzker Prize winner and a pioneer of modernism in Japan. He has designed many buildings that fuse the cultures of East and West and use new materials and technologies. Fumihiko Maki was born in Tokyo, Japan, on September 6, 1928. He is still alive and active as an architect and professor. He has lived and worked in Japan and the United States. Fumihiko Maki is a modernist architect influenced by Japanese and Western traditions. He is interested in creating buildings that are harmonious with their surroundings and express their users’ human and social values. He is also known for his innovative use of metal, glass, wood, and concrete materials.
Fumihiko Maki received his education from various institutions in Japan and the United States. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Tokyo in 1952, a Master of Architecture degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1953, and another Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1954. He also worked as a researcher at Columbia University from 1985 to 1986. Fumihiko Maki has designed many iconic and influential buildings worldwide, such as the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, the Spiral Building in Tokyo, the Shenzhen Sea World Culture and Arts Centre in China, and the Tower 4 of the World Trade Center in New York. He also received many prestigious awards and honors, such as the Wolf Prize in Arts in 1988, the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1993, the Gold Medal in the International Union of Architects in 1993, the Praemium Imperiale in 1999, and the AIA Gold Medal in 2011.
17. Thom Mayne
Thom Mayne is an American commercial architect who is based in Los Angeles. He is one of the most influential and innovative architects of his generation. He is known for his bold and unconventional designs that challenge the norms and expectations of architecture. He is the founder and principal of Morphosis Architects, a firm that has designed many buildings worldwide. He is also a teacher and a leader in architectural education. He helped establish the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in 1972 and has taught at various universities. He received the Pritzker Prize, the highest honor in architecture, in 2005. Thom Mayne was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on January 19, 1944. His father was a Methodist preacher, and his mother had artistic interests. He showed early talent in painting and music. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California (USC) and graduated in 1968. He also studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1978, where he learned from Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus. He served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II, working on the design and construction of merchant marine ships.
Thom Mayne moved to Sarasota, Florida, in 1948 and partnered with Ralph Twitchell for four years until he started his practice in 1952. He became one of the pioneers of the Sarasota School of Architecture, a regional style that combined modernism with local climate and culture. He designed many houses and public buildings in Sarasota, such as the Healy Guest House, the Walker Guest House, the Riverview High School, and the Sarasota County Library. He also designed buildings in other parts of Florida, such as the Deering Residence in Miami and the Milam Residence in Ponte Vedra Beach. Thom Mayne became the chair of Yale University’s Department of Architecture in 1958 and moved to New Haven, Connecticut. He designed the Yale Art and Architecture Building, which was completed in 1963 and became his most famous work. The building was a spatially complex and expressive structure made of reinforced concrete with a distinctive corrugated facade. It was one of the first examples of brutalist architecture in the United States, emphasizing raw materials and geometric forms. The building was controversial and admired by many but also criticized and vandalized by some. It suffered a fire in 1969 that damaged some of its interior spaces.
Thom Mayne left Yale in 1965 and established his office in New York City. He continued to design innovative and unconventional buildings, such as the Temple Street Parking Garage in New Haven, the Orange County Government Center in Goshen, New York, the Lippo Centre in Hong Kong, and the Dhaka Residential Model Town in Bangladesh. He also taught at various universities and influenced architects such as Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, and Muzharul Islam. He received many awards and honors, including the AIA Gold Medal in 1972, the RIBA Gold Medal in 1984, and the National Medal of Arts in 1993. He died on August 8, 1997, in New York City.
18. Peter Zumthor
Peter Zumthor is a Swiss commercial architect known for his minimalist and phenomenological approach to design. He was born in Basel, Switzerland, on April 26, 1943, and studied architecture at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Basel and the Pratt Institute in New York. He worked as a conservation architect in Graubünden before establishing his practice in 1979 in Haldenstein, Switzerland. He won many prestigious awards, such as the Pritzker Prize, the Praemium Imperiale, and the Royal Gold Medal. Zumthor’s architecture is characterized by its attention to the sensory and experiential qualities of space, material, and context. He creates buildings that are harmonious with their surroundings and respectful of their history and culture. He uses simple forms and natural materials to create a poetic and timeless expression. He believes architecture should be a personal and emotional experience, not a commodity or a symbol.
Some of Zumthor’s most famous works are the Therme Vals (1996), a thermal spa built over natural hot springs in Vals, Switzerland; the Kunsthaus Bregenz (1997), a glass and concrete cube that houses a contemporary art museum in Bregenz, Austria; the Kolumba Museum (2007), a museum for the archdiocese of Cologne that incorporates the ruins of a Gothic church and a Baroque chapel; and the Bruder Klaus Field Chapel (2007), a small chapel made of rammed concrete with a charred interior in Wachendorf, Germany.
Who are the famous commercial architects in modern times?
Listed below are the famous commercial architects in modern times:
- Frank Gehry: Frank Gehry is a Canadian-American commercial architect known for his innovative and expressive designs that often feature curved and distorted forms. He created iconic buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, USA, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, France. He has won numerous awards, including the Pritzker Prize, the AIA Gold Medal, and the Royal Gold Medal.
- Norman Foster: Norman Foster is a British commercial architect who leads Foster + Partners, one of the world’s largest and most influential commercial architectural firms. He is renowned for his sleek and elegant designs incorporating high-tech engineering and sustainable features. Some of his most famous projects include the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Hong Kong, China, the Reichstag dome in Berlin, Germany, and the Apple Park in Cupertino, USA. He also received the Pritzker Prize, the AIA Gold Medal, and the Royal Gold Medal.
- Zaha Hadid: Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-British commercial architect who was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize and the Royal Gold Medal. She was known for her bold and futuristic designs that challenged the conventional boundaries of architecture. She designed many landmark buildings, such as the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Guangzhou Opera House in Guangzhou, China, and the London Aquatics Centre in London, UK. She was also a prolific teacher, artist, and designer of furniture, jewelry, and fashion.
- Rem Koolhaas: Rem Koolhaas is a Dutch commercial architect who co-founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). This global firm works on diverse projects, from urban planning to cultural institutions. He is also an influential theorist and writer who has published books such as Delirious New York and S, M, L, XL. His most notable buildings include the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, China, the Seattle Central Library in Seattle, USA, and the Casa da Música in Porto, Portugal. He also won the Pritzker Prize and the RIBA Gold Medal.
- Renzo Piano: Renzo Piano is an Italian commercial architect who co-designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris, France, one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century. He is also the founder of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, a firm that has completed many prestigious projects, such as the Shard in London, UK, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, USA, and the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa, New Caledonia. He is also a laureate of the Pritzker Prize, the AIA Gold Medal, and the RIBA Gold Medal.
Who are the famous commercial architects with the biggest influence on modern architecture?
Listed below are the famous commercial architects with the biggest influence in Modern Architecture:
- Philip Johnson: Philip Johnson had a major influence on Commercial architecture in the mid-20th century. He designed landmarks like the AT&T Building in New York City, now called the Sony Tower, which featured a puffy top and helped popularize glass curtain walls on skyscrapers. For the Seagram Building in New York, Johnson collaborated with Mies van der Rohe, and their design influenced later International style skyscrapers with an emphasis on simplicity.
- Norman Foster: Norman Foster pioneered designs that embraced new technologies and sustainability. He designed modern commercial masterpieces like the HSBC Main Building in Hong Kong, featuring massive glass walls and a triangular geometry. His renowned 30 St Mary Axe building in London, also called The Gherkin, stood out with its distinctive twisting form and green credentials. Foster’s designs optimized the use of space in an eco-friendly manner.
- César Pelli: César Pelli left an enduring mark on skylines worldwide through his innovative commercial designs. He achieved record heights with landmarks such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which reached 1482.7 feet (451.9 meters) and featured a distinctive twin-tower design. The World Financial Center in New York featured modern multi-level designs and the use of glass. His designs brought a new magnitude to Commercial architecture on an international scale.
- Richard Rogers: Richard Rogers is a British architect who pushed boundaries with inventive structural systems in his commercial projects. The Lloyd’s building in London featured an innovative exposed core and services design. His Pompidou Centre in Paris, with its colorful exterior piping, gained attention. He co-designed Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London, implementing efficiency through simple flowing spaces. His designs prioritized transparency and offered new structural possibilities.
- Renzo Piano: Renzo Piano is an Italian architect known for sophisticated structural designs using glass and natural light. He partnered with Richard Rogers on the Pompidou Centre and the Lloyds building. His designs include the Kansai International Airport Terminal Building, featuring a floating roof design, and The Shard in London, now the tallest building in the European Union at 1015.8 feet (309.6 meters). Piano’s commercial structures celebrate a progressive yet calming integration with their settings through inventive structural concepts.
What are the most famous architectural wonders in commercial architecture?
The most famous architectural wonders in Commercial Architecture are The Shard in London, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and Apple Park in Cupertino. Firstly, The Shard is a 95-story skyscraper, the tallest building in the European Union and the sixth-tallest in the world. The building houses offices, restaurants, hotels, apartments, and an observation deck. The building’s design was inspired by the spires of London’s churches and the masts of ships on the River Thames. The building was designed by Renzo Piano, a popular Italian architect who has also designed the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Secondly, Burj Khalifa is a 163-storey mega-tall skyscraper with the tallest building and the tallest structure in the world. The building is a mixed-use development with offices, residences, a hotel, a mosque, and a sky lobby. Islamic architecture and the shape of a desert flower influenced the building’s design. The building was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, an American architectural firm that has also designed the Willis Tower in Chicago and the One World Trade Center in New York. Lastly, Apple Park is a 71-hectare corporate campus that serves as the headquarters of Apple, one of the world’s most valuable companies. The campus features a circular ring-shaped building accommodating 12,000 employees, a visitor center, a fitness center, a research and development facility, and a 1,000-seat auditorium. The campus’s design was intended to reflect Apple’s values of innovation, simplicity, and elegance. The campus was designed by Foster + Partners, a British architectural firm that designed the Reichstag dome in Berlin and the Hearst Tower in New York.
What are the most known architectural firms in commercial architecture?
There are three most known architectural firms in commercial architecture. Firstly, Foster + Partners is a known architectural firm recognized for its global presence and extensive portfolio of commercial projects. Headquartered in London, the firm has delivered iconic structures worldwide, including airports, office buildings, and cultural centers. Secondly, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is another highly regarded architectural firm specializing in commercial projects. Founded in Chicago, SOM has a rich history spanning several decades and has significantly shaped skylines worldwide. The firm’s expertise lies in large-scale developments, corporate headquarters, and mixed-use complexes. Lastly, Gensler is a prominent architectural firm recognized for its extensive commercial portfolio and global reach. Gensler is a leading name in the industry, with offices in numerous cities worldwide, including New York, London, and Shanghai. The firm’s diverse commercial projects include office spaces, retail centers, and hospitality establishments.
What is the architecture body in commercial architecture?
Listed below are the architectural bodies in commercial architecture:
- Architects Registration Board (ARB): The Architects Registration Board is the UK’s statutory regulator of architects, established by Parliament in 1997. The Architects Registration Board’s main duties are to maintain the Register of Architects, prescribe the qualifications needed to become an architect, set the standards of conduct and practice for the profession, and deal with complaints against architects.
- The American Institute of Architects (AIA): The American Institute of Architects is the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners in the United States. The American Institute of Architects serves as the voice of the architecture profession and the resource for its members in service to society. The American Institute of Architects offers education, advocacy, networking, and community outreach programs to enhance the quality of the built environment.
- The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA): The Royal Australian Institute of Architects is the national body for the architectural profession in Australia, representing over 11,000 members across the country and overseas. The Royal Australian Institute of Architects provides professional leadership, guidance, and support through advocacy, education, accreditation, awards, and publications. The Royal Australian Institute of Architects also raises public awareness of the value of architecture and design.
- The International Union of Architects (UIA): The International Union of Architects is a non-governmental organization representing over one million architects in 124 countries worldwide. The International Union of Architects’s mission is to unite the world’s architects without discrimination. The International Union of Architects aims to promote the role of architecture and architects in society, foster international cooperation and exchange, and defend the profession’s rights and interests.
What is the most popular architectural style in commercial architecture?
The most popular architectural style in commercial architecture is modern. Modern architecture emerged in the early 20th century and became popular in commercial architecture during the mid-20th century. Modern architects sought to reinvent how people live rather than what they found attractive. Modern buildings are characterized by clean lines, simple shapes, and a focus on functionality. They often have large windows to let in natural light and open floor plans to maximize space. The Seagram Building in New York City is a well-known example of Modern architecture. Modern buildings have a stylish, sleek appearance, easy maintenance, and affordable, simple design.
What are the most used house-building materials in commercial architecture?
The most used house-building materials in commercial architecture are concrete, steel, glass, and wood. Firstly, Concrete is a strong and versatile material that can be molded into various shapes and sizes. It is also durable and fire-resistant, making it suitable for structural and foundation purposes. Secondly, Steel is another common material for commercial buildings, providing high strength and stability. It is also flexible and adaptable, allowing for complex and innovative designs. Steel can be combined with glass to create transparent and light-filled spaces or with wood to create warm and natural atmospheres. Thirdly, Glass is a popular material for commercial buildings, offering aesthetic and functional benefits. It allows natural light and views to enter the building, creating a pleasant and comfortable environment for the occupants. It also reduces the need for artificial lighting and heating, saving energy and costs. Lastly, Wood is a traditional and renewable material with many commercial architecture applications. It can be used for structural, cladding, or decorative purposes, depending on the type and quality of the wood. It is also easy to work with and has a low environmental impact, as it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
Do building materials affect the payment of an architect?
Yes, building materials can affect the payment of an architect. Different materials have different costs, availability, durability, and environmental impact. These factors can influence a project’s design, complexity, and feasibility. The use of natural or recycled materials may reduce the construction cost but increase the design challenge while using high-end or imported materials may increase the construction cost but improve the quality and aesthetics of the project, wherein architects must carefully consider the choice of materials and adjust their fees accordingly. Some architects charge a percentage of the total construction cost, which means their payment will vary depending on the materials used, while others charge a fixed fee or an hourly rate, which means their payment will depend on the time and effort spent on the project.
How much is the salary of a commercial architect?
The salary of a commercial architect in the United States is $131,322 (€119,503.02, £114,250.14), meanwhile in Europe is $87,200(€80,000, £69,600).
What European countries have the highest salaries for architects?
The European Countries that have the highest salaries for architects are Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Denmark. Switzerland is the highest-paying country in Europe for architects, with an average salary of $146,000 (€130,898, £111,552). Switzerland is known for its high standard of living, low taxes, and strong economy. Luxembourg, with an average salary of $124,000 (€111,552, £94,877), is the second-highest-paying European Country. Denmark is the third-highest-paying country, with an average salary of €96,877 ($107,000, £82,330). Denmark is a Nordic country that ranks high in happiness, social welfare, and environmental sustainability.
