16 Iconic Architects and Their Lasting Influence

Frank Lloyd Wright once stated, "The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own, we have no soul of our own civilization." This quote encapsulates the core of architecture: a harmony of utility and artistic expression.

Throughout history, visionary architects have not only created functional spaces but also transformed the world’s aesthetic landscape. In this article, we explore the remarkable lives and creations of some of the most celebrated architects whose contributions have shaped modern architecture and design.

16. Michelangelo

While Michelangelo is primarily remembered for his painting and sculpture, he was also a visionary architect. He was one of the early pioneers to break away from the classical style, challenging traditional architectural norms.

In 1523, Pope Clement VII tasked Michelangelo with designing a two-story library atop an existing convent. In his creation of the Laurentian Library in Florence, Italy, Michelangelo broke with classical traditions. He reimagined architectural elements such as brackets, once purely functional, as decorative features instead.

Michelangelo's most renowned architectural work is undoubtedly the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and has influenced many, including the designers of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. However, the dome was not finished before Michelangelo’s death, and scholars continue to debate how much the final version differs from his original vision.

15. Mimar Sinan

Contemporary to Michelangelo, Mimar Sinan was a towering figure in the Ottoman Empire. Active in the 16th century, Sinan designed over 300 structures, primarily mosques, but also palaces, schools, and various other buildings.

Undoubtedly the most influential architect in Turkish history, Sinan perfected the design of the domed mosque, an essential symbol of both political power and the Islamic faith in the Ottoman Empire.

Although originally born a Christian, Sinan was enlisted in the Janissary Corps and converted to Islam. Quickly advancing to the position of chief of artillery, he showcased his architectural skills by designing fortifications and bridges. In 1538, he became the Chief of the Imperial Architects and began constructing mosques.

Among his greatest works are the Edirne Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey, and the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

14. Imhotep

Long before the likes of Michelangelo and Mimar Sinan, there was Imhotep, who lived sometime between 2667 B.C.E. and 2648 B.C.E. Born a commoner, Imhotep rose to prominence as the chief architect to Pharaoh Djoser of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, earning the distinction of being the first architect, among other achievements.

Imhotep is credited with designing the pharaoh's tomb, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. Known as the world's first pyramid, as noted by Discovering Egypt, it was constructed by stacking multiple mastabas (traditional flat-roofed burial structures with sloping sides), each smaller than the one beneath it. The result is a 204-foot (62-meter) tall step structure, surrounded by a vast complex that overlooked the ancient capital of Memphis. The tomb itself is located beneath the pyramid.

To build the Step Pyramid, Imhotep invented new tools and equipment. While earlier mastabas had been made of clay brick, Imhotep used stone blocks, with the exterior covered in limestone. His innovative design influenced the creation of subsequent burial structures, ultimately leading to the construction of the later pyramids, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Imhotep’s brilliance, which extended beyond architecture to healing, led to his deification. He was worshipped in Memphis and later by the Greeks, who equated him with Asclepius, their god of medicine.

13. Sir Christopher Wren

Under normal circumstances, Sir Christopher Wren would be remembered as a brilliant architect, but he might not have become one of history’s most famous architects. However, Wren found himself at the right place at the right time and possessed the perfect skills for greatness.

Wren, who was a professor of astronomy at Oxford, ventured into architecture through his fascination with physics and engineering. In the 1660s, he was commissioned to design the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford and traveled to Paris to study the French and Italian baroque styles. By 1666, Wren had completed a design for the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. However, just one week after his design was approved, the Great Fire of London ravaged the city, destroying much of it, including the cathedral.

The Great Fire of London unexpectedly provided Wren with an opportunity, and he soon began working on the city’s reconstruction. While large-scale plans to rebuild the entire city proved too ambitious, by 1669, Wren was appointed surveyor of royal works, a position that put him in charge of several government building projects.

Ultimately, Wren played a key role in designing 51 churches, in addition to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Other iconic buildings he designed include the Greenwich Hospital (which later became the Royal Naval College) and the façade of Hampton Court Palace, both located in London.

12. Louis Henry Sullivan

Known for his concept of "form follows function," Louis Henry Sullivan sought to break away from traditional styles and played a major role in shaping a uniquely American architectural identity. Like Sir Christopher Wren, Sullivan found an opportunity following a devastating fire.

The Great Fire of 1871 in Chicago sparked a construction boom, providing architects like Sullivan with work for many years. As a young man, he briefly worked in the offices of renowned architects Frank Furness and William Le Baron Jenney. At just 24 years old, he became a partner at Dankmar Adler's firm in 1881.

As architects like Jenney began utilizing steel to create taller buildings, the skyscraper emerged. Sullivan played a pivotal role in developing a new, functional design for these towering structures, challenging traditional approaches. Some even call him the "Father of the Skyscraper," though others attribute this title to Jenney.

Sullivan’s designs combined both geometric precision and organic forms. While most of his work was concentrated in Chicago, his most iconic structures include the 10-story Wainwright Building in St. Louis, completed in 1890, and the 16-story Guaranty Building in Buffalo, completed in 1894.

11. Le Corbusier

Born in 1887, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known by his pseudonym Le Corbusier, made groundbreaking contributions to 20th-century modernist architecture. In 1920, he co-founded the publication "L'Esprit Nouveau" with painter Amédée Ozenfant, writing under pseudonyms. Le Corbusier adopted his family name as his professional alias.

Le Corbusier championed functionalism, rejecting excessive ornamentation and favoring modern materials like concrete and steel. He became widely known for his innovative house designs and played a central role in the development of the International Style of architecture.

His architectural designs featured open, free-flowing floor plans and column support, which allowed walls to be placed independently of the structure. He often raised his buildings on stilts, believing this promoted a hygienic way of life. His buildings also included flat roofs that could be used for gardens.

Le Corbusier famously described a house as "a machine for living in." Throughout his career, he patented several inventions, including the distinctive horizontal sliding windows that spanned the full length of a building.

10. Antoni Gaudi

Driven by his devout faith and deep connection to nature, the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, born in 1852 in Catalonia, developed a unique architectural style. A passionate Catholic, he believed he could honor God by drawing inspiration from the natural world, which he saw as a reflection of God's creation.

Gaudí, inspired by the forms found in nature, favored curved shapes over straight lines, rich textures, and vibrant hues. His distinctive style combined elements of neo-Gothic, avant-garde, and surrealism, making it both unique and unconventional.

The works of Gaudí became intrinsically linked with the city of Barcelona. However, during the 1920s and 1930s, the architectural world was dominated by the International Style, which was in sharp contrast to his philosophy. It wasn't until the 1960s that Gaudí's genius began to be widely acknowledged.

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is his most iconic creation. Though the cathedral was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1926, construction has continued, and it remains incomplete to this day.

9. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, commonly known as Mies, was born in Germany in 1886. He was a pioneering modern architect who bridged the ornate, traditional styles of the 19th century with the sleek, minimalist designs of the 20th century. After gaining recognition in residential architecture in his homeland, he was selected to design the German Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona.

Mies is also renowned for creating the Barcelona chair, a cantilevered design with a steel frame. In 1937, he relocated to the United States, where he became the long-time director and campus designer for the School of Architecture at Chicago's Armour Institute.

During his time in the U.S., Mies designed iconic skyscrapers such as the Seagram Building in New York City and the Lake Shore Drive apartments in Chicago. His architectural approach often included exposed structural steel, reflecting the Industrial Age, while embracing his philosophy that "less is more"—creating simple, elegant designs with minimal ornamentation.

8. Ieoh Ming Pei

Ieoh Ming Pei, widely known as I.M. Pei, was born in China in 1917. He moved to the United States in the 1930s to study architecture. However, due to the onset of World War II, he could not return to China after his graduation. Pei stayed in the U.S. and became a citizen in 1954.

Pei's work was characterized by a blend of modern and traditional elements, which he called the "impossible dream." His designs were seen as an extension of the International Style championed by architects like Le Corbusier. Pei is also associated with brutalism, a style known for its bold and utilitarian forms, as seen in projects like the National Center for Atmospheric Research, completed in 1967, where concrete blocks display brutalist influence.

Pei gained widespread recognition in the 1960s with his design of the terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. His fame grew further in 1974 with the completion of the East Building at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and peaked in 1989 when he unveiled the controversial glass pyramid in the Louvre's courtyard in Paris.

7. Norman Foster

When Sir Norman Foster was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1999, he had not yet finished some of his most celebrated architectural creations. Born in Manchester, England, in 1935, Foster pursued architecture at the University of Manchester and Yale University, earning his master's degree. Before founding his firm, Foster + Partners, in 1967, he collaborated with Richard and Su Rogers, as well as his wife Wendy Foster, at the firm Team 4 they established together.

In 1967, he established Foster + Partners, which quickly gained worldwide recognition for its innovative designs. The firm has since completed a wide range of projects, including airports, cultural buildings, private residences, and product designs, collecting over 400 awards. Foster + Partners has left a global mark, with notable works such as the 1985 HSBC project in Shanghai, which features feng shui-balancing cement canons atop the roof, and the Millau Viaduct in Southern France, one of the tallest bridges in the world, designed by Foster in collaboration with engineer Michel Virlogeux.

However, visitors to London are likely most familiar with his iconic local projects such as the Great Court at the British Museum, the Millennium Bridge, London City Hall, and The Gherkin.

6. Arata Isozaki

Arata Isozaki, a Japanese architect born in Kyushu in 1931, was deeply impacted by the devastation he witnessed during World War II. He studied architecture at the University of Tokyo, driven by a desire to rebuild the war-torn cities. After working under Tange Kenzō, Isozaki opened his own design studio in 1963 and developed a concept he called 'twilight gloom,' which was described by the Museum of Modern Art as an aesthetic that gives form to the idea of obliteration.

The Metabolist movement, which sought to merge technology with practicality, had a profound influence on Isozaki's early work, such as the 1966 Ōita Prefectural Library. Over time, he adopted various methods and created many other pioneering buildings, securing his first international commission in 1986 with the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art.

Throughout the following decades, Isozaki's projects spanned the globe, including the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the Team Disney Building in Orlando, Florida, the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha, and the Shanghai Symphony Hall in China, among others. In total, he designed over 100 projects, and in recognition of his immense impact on architecture, he was awarded the 2019 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

5. Eero Saarinen

Although a career in architecture is often long, with many renowned architects working well into their 80s or beyond, Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen did not have that privilege. He passed away at the age of 51 during a surgery for a brain tumor, leaving many of his most iconic works unfinished.

Born in Kirkkonummi, Finland, in 1910 to the esteemed architect Eliel Saarinen and sculptor Loja Gesellius, Eero Saarinen first studied sculpture in Paris before pursuing architecture at Yale University. He went on to teach at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, became friends with Charles and Ray Eames, and even worked with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II.

Saarinen's style was marked by "curvilinear and organically inspired sculptural forms," which were groundbreaking at the time. In addition to designing furniture like the Womb chair and Tulip table for Knoll, he is credited with iconic landmarks such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, his very first solo project.

Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport (formerly Idlewild) was another signature design completed posthumously. In recognition of his monumental contribution to architecture, Saarinen was awarded the AIA Gold Medal in 1962, two years after his death.

4. Dame Zaha Hadid

Famed for incorporating astonishing forms that seem to defy the laws of physics, architect Zaha Hadid had a background in mathematics before she earned the prestigious Diploma Prize from the Architectural Association (AA) in London in 1977.

Born in Baghdad in 1950, at a time when Iraq was undergoing modernization, Zaha Hadid knew she wanted to pursue architecture by the age of 11, as noted by The Art Story. After obtaining her AA diploma, she joined the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotterdam, Netherlands, before establishing her own firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, in 1980 in London.

Hadid soon earned a global reputation for her innovative theoretical designs, according to The Guardian. However, it wasn't until 2011 that she completed her first significant project in the U.K. — the Riverside Museum of Transport in Glasgow. That said, her work continued to captivate audiences worldwide, starting with the inaugural Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in 2000.

Take the Guangzhou Opera House, completed in 2010, with its sculpted design that opens up to the riverside, or the sweeping curves of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the exterior plaza and interior seamlessly flow together. For her groundbreaking work, Hadid received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004, becoming the first woman to do so. She passed away in 2016 at the age of 65.

3. Frank Gehry

Born in Canada in 1929 and relocating to the U.S. as a teenager, Frank Gehry went on to become a major influence in both deconstructivist and postmodern architectural movements. In contrast to the rigid, functional nature of the international style, Gehry is known for his exploration of irregular shapes and bold, expressive forms.

Gaining attention during the 1960s and 1970s for his line of furniture made from corrugated cardboard, Gehry's work soon gained a following. By the 1990s, his approach evolved into a signature style marked by flowing, organic shapes that seemed to defy convention.

He designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which opened in 1997. The building's design was meant to evoke both a ship and a living organism. Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall, completed in Los Angeles in 2003, is renowned not only for its unconventional form but also its exceptional acoustics. Even in his 90s, Gehry remains at the forefront of architectural innovation.

2. Sir David Adjaye

Born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1966, Sir David Adjaye had a unique upbringing surrounded by diverse cultures and architectural influences due to his father's diplomatic career. He later moved to London, where the Ghanaian-British architect obtained his degrees from South Bank University and the Royal College of Art.

Adjaye captured the architectural landscapes of 54 African cities, compiling the photographs into a publication titled "Adjaye Africa Architecture: A Photographic Survey of Metropolitan Architecture." In 2000, he founded Adjaye Associates, with offices now spanning Accra, London, and New York. In 2021, he was honored with the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, one of the highest accolades in British architecture.

Influenced by his travels, Adjaye also found deep inspiration in the power of architecture to serve communities and foster equality, especially driven by the struggles faced by his brother Emmanuel, who was partially paralyzed. These insights are discussed on his firm's website.

After founding his architectural firm, Adjaye took on civic commissions, including the Ideas Stores public libraries in London and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver. In 2009, he and Philip Freelon, as Freelon Adjaye Bond/Smith Group, triumphed in an international competition to design the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C. According to Architectural Digest, Adjaye’s designs often incorporate "historical motifs that culminate in decorative patterns," a hallmark seen in the museum's façade.

1. Frank Lloyd Wright

Many consider Frank Lloyd Wright to be the most influential architect of the modern era. Alongside his early mentor, Louis Henri Sullivan, Wright played a pivotal role in shaping a distinctive American architectural style.

Wright was a champion of the Prairie School of architecture, a movement that emerged from the Midwest United States, which emphasized horizontal lines designed to harmonize with the surrounding landscape. The Robie House, built in 1910 in Chicago, serves as a prime example of his Prairie style. Wright took this idea to new heights, advocating for what he termed organic architecture. This concept involved using both structural elements and materials to create designs that blend seamlessly with nature and their environment.

In 1909, Wright's personal life became a scandal when he left his wife and children for his mistress. Despite this, his career eventually rebounded, and he went on to design numerous iconic works. Among his masterpieces is Fallingwater, a 1935 design for a home built over a waterfall in southwestern Pennsylvania. Wright also revolutionized architecture with his design of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, featuring a continuous spiral ramp instead of individual floors.