"Design is a very basic thing inherent in the individual. With every individual comes a sense of design."
This quote suggests that the ability to design, or create solutions for practical needs, is an innate human trait. Each person has their unique perspective and creative capacity, which they can use to shape their environment and solve problems in their own distinctive way. Essentially, Pei is emphasizing that everyone, regardless of profession, possesses an inherent sense of design that guides them in their daily lives.
"You can't just make it look pretty. You've got to make it work."
I.M. Pei's quote emphasizes that aesthetics, or making something look appealing, should not be the only focus in design. Instead, functionality is equally important. It suggests that a successful design must not only be visually pleasing but also serve its intended purpose effectively. This perspective highlights the importance of balance between form and function in design projects.
"Architecture sets the kind of wonderful confrontations between the old and the new."
This quote by I.M. Pei emphasizes the significance of architecture in fostering thought-provoking encounters between past and present. By integrating new designs with existing structures or traditions, architects challenge us to reconsider our relationship with history and innovation. Such confrontations stimulate our minds, enrich our cultural perspectives, and ultimately inspire growth and progress.
"Good architecture is like a good joke, when you have finished with it you forget that it was ever there."
I.M. Pei's quote suggests that great architecture should seamlessly blend with its environment, becoming an integral part of the space rather than drawing attention to itself. Just as a good joke leaves a lasting impression without being explicitly remembered, impressive architecture enhances our experience of a place without calling undue attention to itself. The goal is not just visual appeal, but a harmonious and meaningful integration with the surroundings.
"I think all architects are concerned about society, but some are more vocal than others."
This quote suggests that while architects as a profession strive to consider societal needs and well-being in their designs, the degree of active engagement or vocal expression about social issues varies among individual architects. In other words, all architects aim to design for society, but some architects choose to make explicit statements about their concerns for societal impact through their work, while others might focus more on the technical aspects without overtly addressing broader societal issues.
In northern architecture - the cathedrals of Europe and all the little churches - the details, the carving of stone, become necessary because the light is not there to help you very much. You have to enrich surfaces. The desert reduces form to its simplest nature. There is no need for gargoyles or flying buttresses in the desert.
- I. M. Pei
We had a lot of difficulty in getting the French to accept the pyramid. They thought we were trying to import a piece of Egypt until I pointed out that their obelisk was also from Egypt and the Place des Pyramides is around the corner. Then they accepted it. The pyramid at the Louvre, though, is just the tip.
- I. M. Pei
I have a great love for nature. That must have started somewhere down back home, I think, because my family own one of the better known gardens in Soochow, so I played there, and I lived there, and so I must have absorbed something there. So I continue to have a great interest in nature.
- I. M. Pei
I'd been going to the Louvre since 1951. I thought I knew Paris and the French, but I didn't really. You know how easy it is to make friends when you are traveling. People are curious about you, you are curious about them. But you never really make friends that way. After the Louvre, I discovered that I have friends now because I have enemies.
- I. M. Pei
To me, form doesn't always follow function. Form has a life of its own, and at times, it may be the motivating force in design. When you're dealing with form as a sculptor, you feel that you are quite free in attempting to mould and shape things you want to do, but in architecture, it's much more difficult because it has to have a function.
- I. M. Pei
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