(April 26, 1917 – May 16, 2019)
About I.M. Pei
I.M. Pei, male, was born on April 26, 1917 in Guangzhou, China. His ancestral home is Suzhou. He is a Chinese American architect after the famous family in Suzhou.
Pei studied architecture at MIT and Harvard University. I.M. Pei won the gold medal of American Architectural Society in 1979, the gold medal of French architecture in 1981, the Japanese Imperial prize in 1989, the fifth Pritzker Prize in 1983, and the medal of freedom awarded by President Reagan in 1986.
Pei’s works are mainly public buildings, cultural and educational buildings, which are classified as modernist buildings, and are good at using steel, concrete, glass and stone. His representative buildings include the east wing of the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the expansion project of the Louvre in Paris, France. Known as “the last master of modern architecture”.
Master architects and masterpieces
I.M. Pei was born in Guangzhou in 1917. His ancestral home is Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. I.M. Pei’s ancestor is a famous family in Suzhou, so I.M. Pei had a chance to spend a rare time in the Lion Grove in his childhood.
Lion forest is one of the four famous gardens in Suzhou. It was built in the Yuan Dynasty. The main buildings in the garden, such as jianshanlou, wenmeige, feibaoting and yanyutang, are free and flexible with blue lake, rockery and stone peak. It is one of the most representative classical private garden buildings in China and has been listed in the world cultural heritage.
Maybe I.M. Pei inherits the blood of Suzhou ancestors and brings Jiangnan sentiment in his heart; maybe I.M. Pei is the chosen darling of God and gives him the talent of architectural design; or I.M. Pei’s childhood in the Lion Grove has influenced him imperceptibly, and the elegance of the Lion Grove has buried a seed of architecture that can create beauty in his heart, which I.M. Pei deeply in love with architecture.
After graduating from high school, in 1935, I.M. Pei went to the United States to study in the school of architecture, University of Pennsylvania, and then transferred to MIT to major in engineering. After graduating, I.M. Pei worked in the “National Defense Research Council” for a period of time. In 1944, he returned to school and entered Harvard University to study architecture and continued to study for a master’s degree.
In 1948, after graduating from Harvard University, I.M. Pei remained as an assistant professor in the Department of architecture. In the same year, I.M. Pei was appreciated by William chagendorf, a rich real estate developer, and employed him as the director of the Architectural Research Department of his construction company. Since then, I.M. Pei has shown his talents in the construction industry. He has not only won numerous awards, but also turned his talents and learning achievements into one brilliant architectural work after another.
The National Library, Xiangshan Hotel, the expansion project of Louvre in Paris – glass pyramid, Meixiu Art Museum of Japan, Suzhou Museum, etc. are designed and built in Boston port to commemorate President John F. Kennedy. Each work is like solidified music, making people happy in the center of architectural beauty.
I.M. Pei, known as “the last master of modern architecture”, is an architect who can really make architecture play music.He designed and built the expansion project of the Louvre in Paris, the glass pyramid. In the ancient and elegant charm of the Louvre, the inside information of the pyramid melts the ancient, and the transparency of the glass and the role of light present the elegance of modern art, as if playing a light and elegant piano music in the artistic meditation of the Louvre.The magnificent structure not only conquered France, but also became a new favorite of tourists and photographers all over the world. It also made the ancient art atmosphere of the Louvre go out of history and extend to modern times, with more vitality.
- M. Pei’s new Suzhou Museum is a perfect combination of traditional Suzhou gardens and modern art. On the basis of retaining Suzhou’s traditional architectural style and the main colors of pink walls and tiles, he added modern simple geometric design and the use of gray granite and glass building materials to combine the Jiangnan elegance of traditional Suzhou gardens with modern simple freshness Fusion into a more elegant and light beauty, as if winding mountain streams flowing in the quiet mountains, playing a song of elegance.
The proudest Masterpiece —— The origin of love
- M. Pei’s love is in line with the saying “we are destined to meet for thousands of miles”. After crossing the Eurasian landscape, he and his love met in New York. From then on, they took root in New York, accompanied and knew each other. No matter thousands of mountains and rivers, in the vast sea of people, in the boundless wilderness of time, as long as the origin, you will always skim over thousands of people and directly see the person you should meet.
It seems that fate can lead two people who are destined to love each other invisibly, and never forget the moment of origin. I.M. Pei saw her in the sea of people on the platform. The world seemed to be still and the noise, people on the platform disappeared, leaving only two of them. He only saw her coming and going to his heart.
- M. Pei was on holiday in New York in the summer vacation of 1938. He was supposed to meet a friend at the central railway station, but he ran into her in the sea of people on the platform. Her name is Ailing Lu. Her ancestral home is Dongguan, Guangdong Province. She comes from a famous family. At this time, Ailing Lu was going to study at Wesleyan College. She just met Pei’s friend who came to the station to meet her and accompanied her all the way to New York.
Ailing Lu was born in a famous family and had received good education. She had both the dignified atmosphere of everyone, the clear and foreign style of a new-style woman. Ailing Lu with outstanding temperament was born gorgeous and modest. I.M. Pei fell in love with Ailing Lu at a glance. He believed that Ailing Lu was the other half of his life and the lover of his life. This is probably the predestined marriage, as long as we meet Enough to know each other. When fate comes, nothing can stop the two ends of the fate of people close. Ailing Lu’s train to Boston was delayed in Hartford because of the hurricane. Pei seized the golden opportunity and met her again.
Ailing Lu’s Wesleyan College and I.M. Pei’s Massachusetts Institute of technology are both in Boston. Although there is a certain distance between the two schools, it is just a good distance for men and women in love. It can make two hearts miss each other because of the distance and get closer because of the distance.
As I.M. Pei’s contacts with Ailing Lu have deepened, two people and two hearts have confirmed each other that they are the right one. So, on June 20, 1942, the fifth day after the graduation ceremony of Wesleyan College, Ailing Lu and I.M.Pei finally got married and entered the sacred palace of marriage after they had been in love for more than four years.
The proudest masterpiece——Love grows old together
The reason why I.M. Pei loves Ailing Lu so much is that Ailing Lu treats each other with the same deep affection. Ailing Lu knows that I.M. Pei loves architecture, the company and acquaintance with I.M. Pei make her understand the beauty of architecture. Therefore, Ailing Lu applied for the garden architecture of Graduate Design Institute of Harvard University.
This makes Ailing Lu’s feelings and thoughts closer to Pei. They can not only warm and rely on each other in their lives, but also tacit support and appreciate each other in their work. Ailing Lu is not only Pei’s lover and life partner, but also Pei’s right-hand assistant and life confidant.
When Ailing Lu gave birth to Pei’s first beloved son “Dingzhong”, she stopped her studies and devoted herself to supporting Pei’s construction career and dream. After Pei’s architectural awards, achievements and achievements, and gradually climbing to the top of her ideal, Ailing Lu built a warm home, a clear sky of love and a deep foundation of affection for him.
M. Pei’s every architectural achievement is full of Ailing Lu’s affection for each other. Therefore, I.M. Pei knows that his proudest masterpiece in his life is his love.
