Minoru Yamasaki
Minoru Yamasaki
Minoru Yamasakiwas an American architect, best known for designing the original World Trade Center in New York City and several other large-scale projects. Yamasaki was one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century. He and fellow architect Edward Durell Stone are generally considered to be the two master practitioners of "New Formalism"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionArchitect
Date of Birth1 December 1912
CountryUnited States of America
thinking looks shapes
And sometimes I'm criticized. But I think that if those who criticize us will look at the reason why the shape is this, well then, I think that they would not object so strenuously.
thinking artist civilization
I feel this is very important for us to have serene buildings because our civilization is chaotic as it is, you see; our whole machine age has brought about a chaos that has to be somehow counterbalanced, I think.
change wall thinking
And I like the idea of change. Because I don't see why we should hang a painting on the wall and then just not think of it anymore because it's there like a piece of furniture.
thinking technology want
I want to do very useful buildings and I would like to find a method of producing these buildings through our technology because I think that this is the only way that we will gain wonderful environment easily in the future.
thinking architecture influence
If you examine this, I think that you will find that it's the mechanics of Japanese architecture that have been thought of as the direct influence upon our architecture.
life strong thinking
And I think that the environment is one very strong way to counterbalance the chaotic nature of our life.
american-architect asking buildings built hundred test whether
So I test all the buildings that I do by asking myself whether this building was possible, could have been built 50 years ago or a hundred years ago.
american-architect outside view
The view outside was much more important than the exhibits.
american-architect central sculpture
But I don't see why we have to take a central hall, for instance, and use in it a sculpture or painting. I think it detracts, somehow.
american-architect believe deeply democracy good india overwhelm
However, India is a democracy and they deeply believe in democracy and we feel that it would not be good to overwhelm them with propaganda.
american-architect college differs schools urban walking
The interesting thing about Oberlin College as it differs from other more urban schools or universities is that it is a walking campus.
trying architecture building
So what we have tried to do in our later buildings is to try to be completely consistent, as a painter is consistent or as a sculptor is consistent. Architecture also must be very consistent.
jobs my-favorite gas
Let's talk about the Gas Company because this is my favorite job.
world ears building
In this tour around the world I was not interested in contemporary buildings because I had seen contemporary buildings actually until they came out of my ears in a sense.