Gordon Bunshaft-SOM
From Archiplanet
| Gordon Bunshaft/ SOM | |
| Born | 1909; Buffalo, New York, USA |
| Died | 1990; |
| Notes | |
| At Great Buildings | http://www.GreatBuildings.com/architects/Gordon_Bunshaft-SOM.html |
Contents |
Works
- Beinecke Rare Book Library, at New Haven, Connecticut, 1963. Archiplanet page GreatBuildings page
- Chase Manhattan Bank, at New York, New York, 1961. Archiplanet page GreatBuildings page
- Hirshhorn Museum, at Washington, D.C., 1974. Archiplanet page GreatBuildings page
- Lever House, at New York, New York, 1950 to 1952. Archiplanet page GreatBuildings page
- Manufacturer's Trust Co., at New York, New York, 1954. Archiplanet page GreatBuildings page
- National Commercial Bank HQ, at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1981 to 1983. Archiplanet page GreatBuildings page
Designer of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Completed 1965. Building renamed the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center in 2001 after a 3 year, $38 million renovation project designed by Polshek Partnership Architects.
Discussion
(b. Buffalo, New York 1909; d. 1990)
Gordon Bunshaft was born in Buffalo, New York in 1909. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Masters in Architecture. He then travelled through Europe and North Africa on two separate travelling fellowships. Upon returning to the U. S., he obtained a position as the Chief Designer at [Skidmore_Owings_and_Merrill.html Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill]. He has been a partner with the firm since 1949.
Bunshaft 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.
Bunshaft generated buildings of contemporary classicism. He avoided 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 furnishing as a major feature of each building. ]
Bunshaft 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, Bunshaft contributed classical, well-reasoned compositions.
References
Muriel Emmanuel. Contemporary Architects. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. ISBN 0-312-16635-4. NA 680-C625. p126-127.
Details
- Recipient, Pritzker Architecture Prize, 1988.
Designer of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Completed 1965. Building renamed the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center in 2001 after a 3 year, $38 million renovation project designed by Polshek Partnership Architects.
References
External Links
Gordon Bunschaft Pritzker Prize — Several pages of good background information, at the Pritzker Prize site.
