The Renzo Piano Pavilion was a 2013 addition to the Kimbell art museum, a separate building from the original 1972 Louis Kahn building. Own it’s own, I appreciate the architecture and the functionality of the Renzo Piano Pavilion, yet, across the lawn from the original Kahn building, I find that the Renzo Piano Pavilion detracts from the awe of a building crafted by one of the least prolific, yet most talented architects of all time. While the Piano Pavilion has elements of the original Kahn building, such as concrete with visible dents from where the support bars once were, the Pavilion lacks the uniqueness that the Kahn building provides. This Pavilion is important to me because each time I visit the Kimbell, I am reminded of what was once an expansive lawn. I notice people entering the Kahn building through the unintended entrance, exiting through the intended entrance, and across the lawn straight to the Pavilion. People are no longer spending time in the Kahn Building. Now, the Kahn building serves as a place for the permanent collection, and the visiting exhibits are all hosted in Renzo Piano Pavilion. Recently, I went to see a Renoir exhibit, and to my sadness, it was on display in the Renzo Piano Pavilion.

The Chickasaw Nation Pharmacy was the first complex building that I had the opportunity to see built from the ground up. I was apart of the project management team and was able to see the administrative work and coordination that went into a large building. The building was approximately 37,000 sqft and had a project budget of $18 million and the project duration was just over 20 months. This building impacted me in a positive way because, it have me a much greater appreciation for buildings in general. I had previously understood the way buildings were assembled in a conceptual way but had never seen the process in real life. The amount of labor and energy that goes into buildings of this nature was stunning to me.

In 1982 the French president François Mitterrand announced a national design competition for this monument. The Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen’s design won the competition, and construction began in 1985. Paul Andreu was Spreckelsen’s associate when in 1986 Spreckelsen resigned and Andreu took over the project. For the next three years Andreu oversaw the design and construction of the arch.

The arch is shaped like a cube, with sides of length 110 meters. It is situated at one end of the Axe Historique, a line of monuments running through Paris. In the middle is the Arc de Triomphe and at the opposite end is the Louvre. Unfortunately, rail lines and tunnels forced the supporting pillars of the arch to stand slightly askew from the axis of the Axe Historique. However, it does reflect a slight skew in the Louvre at the opposite end.

In Spreckelsen’s design, the arch was built not as a tribute to any military victories. Instead, it was designed as a monument to humanity and humanitarian ideals. It was inaugurated in 1989, two hundred years after the French Revolution.

The Bizzell Memorial Library has been one of the most influential buildings in my life. I have spent so much time over the years learning and reflecting here. It was one of my favorite buildings on campus whenever campus was my playground as a kid living in Norman. It has become a safe haven for me during the school year and has so many great spaces both inside and out. I love the Rock Canyon Garden the most and it’s my go-to study spot. 

I remember noting the distinct style of architecture as a child and later learned more about the Cherokee Gothic style that OU’s campus embodies. I think that it creates such an interesting environment that is appreciated by all of those who experience it. I’m inspired by how many different generations have learned in this building and I especially love the sign out front that reads, “The spirit of learning is a lasting frontier”. The Bizz is more than a library to me as it has impacted me and my family in magnificent ways and I hope that it continues to do so.

In addition to the special memories I’ve made at the Kimbell Art Museum, I have also learned about architecture and its symbolism as well as functionality. Kahn designed the building taking inspiration from Roman architecture. Additionally, from the sky, the museum looks like cattle barns, an homage to the city of Fort Worth which is commonly referred to as Cowtown. One of the important functions incorporated in the architecture is the reflection of natural light to illuminate the art work without damaging it with direct light. The shape of each vault allows light down through a narrow window that then reflects the light back onto the ceiling. The functionality of this specific design has made me look at architecture with a more critical eye.

One of Paul Andreu’s most important works was the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, in China. Construction on the steel-framed semi-ellipsoidal center began in 2001, and was completed in 2007. This work would become one of the staples of his life’s work.

Building requirements in Beijing dictate that no building can be higher than 46 meters, the height of the Great Hall of the People. Since so much space was required for a work like the NCPA, it uses a huge amount of underground space, stretching to 32.5 meters below surface level. The NCPA is surrounded by an artificial lake, which is kept at a mild temperature by circulating in groundwater from the Yongding river which flows through Beijing. The Yongding river flows underground beneath the NCPA and provides enough buoyancy to support an enormous amount of weight. This buoyancy supports the entire structure of the NCPA.

Paul Andreu had great admiration for China and worked on a number of projects for the country. This work was the crowning achievement of his works for China and one of the most remarkable of his career. The location of the hall, near the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City, signifies the magnitude of the responsiblity entrusted to Paul Andreu.

Andreu justified the placement of such a modern building in a place with such important Chinese architecture by the importance of Beijing in the modern world. Moreover, he designed the building in a way that was intended to complement the surrounding architecture, not to distract or detract from it.

One reason that the Kimbell Art Museum has had a significant impact on me is because of the architecture. In high school, I watched the documentary My Architect, directed by Louis Kahn’s son. The documentary detailed the drama surrounding Kahn’s life, including interviews with the two separate families that Kahn kept a secret until his sudden death, where he was found dead in a Penn Station bathroom with no identification on him. The drama surrounding Kahn’s life fascinated me, and inspired me to look into Kahn’s architecture. I was even able to get a tour of the Kimbell art museum by a woman who allegedly knew Kahn, and had worked at the Kimbell since its inception. It was fascinating how passionate he was about every detail. The woman who gave me the tour began crying talking about how upset Kahn would have been over the installation of railings on the stairs in the building. Learning about the architecture of the Kimbell gave me a new appreciation for architecture. Previously, I had ignored most of the architectural elements of the Kimbell.

Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, the Kimbell Art Museum had a significant influence on me. On the weekends, my parents would take us to the many museums in Fort Worth, one of them being the Kimbell Art Museum. Sometimes, my grandparents would drive over from Dallas to join us. In addition to hosting our family time, the Kimbell hosted my exposure to some of the world’s greatest artists. The permanent collection at the Kimbell features work by Matisse, Picasso, and Miró, amongst many other world renowned artists. Strolling through the permanent collection at the Kimbell as well as other impressive exhibits sparked my interest in art. I feel so lucky to have access to such an impressive collection of art, in an equally beautiful building designed by Louis Kahn.

Another building of Make Architects located in London, England, 8 Artillery Row is a renovated building that was completed in 2014. The renovated design sure gives off a historic and contemporary feel to it. Located in the middle of the building is a grand 2.2m clock, handmade with two concentric turning bronze circles.

The newly renovated residential development includes ground-floor retail frontage, 22 apartments, and a setback, double-height penthouse. For 8 Artillery Row, cast and patinated bronze elements were used in balustrades, ventilation grilles and a decorative screen next to the residential entrance.

Located in China’s Shandong Peninsula on an island, is the beautiful Weihai Pavilion. The pavilion is an information hub and event venue all in one. The Pavilion has a unique crescent moon shape, allowing visitors to see the full beauty of the ocean. The building is divided into two by a curved bamboo wall, one side casting its sights inland while the other gazes out to sea.

The Pavilion was the first building designed by Make Architects in China and the 6000 sq ft building is the first on the island. The building has an interesting over-sailing roof, which allows natural light to flow in and also provides shade in the hot summer. Located inside the pavilion are a bar, meeting spaces, cinema and wraparound external terrace.