11 Most Famous Architects in The World

Today we will present you the architectural works of art and talk about 11 most famous architects in the world. The architecture is not just designing the form, it’s so much more, it reflects environmental, social, aesthetic and functional considerations. One of the Roman architects, Vitruvius, said that a building must satisfy the three principles: firmitas, utilitas, venustas (durability, utility and beauty).

From the origins of architecture, when people built secure shelters, to the modern ages, we became acquainted with numerous works of architecture, but there are few architects who became famous around the globe. We admire their works and tourists visit them every year, just as they are eager to 10 most famous artifacts from the ancient world.

To compile a list of the most famous architects, we were looking for the ones who are known about by many people. We also took into consideration some of the lists of the most popular architects, which are produced by the experts in architecture. When we gathered all the data, we were able to make a list by assembling information collected from other sources. Some of the sources that we have used are: Architect architecture, Architecture and design, E-architect, Arch daily, and Complex. You will find out that you heard of them, but try to remember some of the most famous works of these architects before you read the descriptions in our slideshow. Let’s find out together what we have got:

11. Le Corbusier

His real name was Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, but he became popular as Le Corbusier. This Swiss-French architect was a pioneer of the modern architecture. Le Corbusier was a master in urban planning and was dedicated to making better living conditions. Some of the most famous Le Corbusier’s buildings are: United Nations Headquarters New York, Notre Dame du Haut, Saint- Pierre, Palace of Justice in Chandigarh, Palace of Assembly, Saint Marie de la Tourette, The Cite Radieuse, Villa Savoy, The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, La Maison Blanche and Heidi Weber Pavilion.

10. Sullivan

Louis Sullivan was an architect known as the “father of skyscrapers”. This American architect is considered by many architectural experts as the creator of the skyscraper. In the late 19th century, America needed modern buildings for its urbanized society. Louis Sullivan said that the form has to follow the function, and hence attributed to Vitruvius concept we have mentioned before (durability, utility and beauty). Some of the most famous Sullivan’s buildings are: Auditorium Building in Chicago, Wainwright Building, The Bradley House Guaranty Building, People’s Federal Savings & Loan, National’s Farmer Bank, The Carson Pirie Scott Building, Schlesinger and Mayer Department Store and St. Paul Church.

9. Aalto

Finish architect Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto whose work ranges from Nordic Classicism to the International Style Modernism, concerned a design as “a total work of art” (Gesamtkunstwerk). The most famous works of Alvar Aalto are: Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finish Pavilion, Wolfsburg Cultural Centre, Muuratsalo Experimental House, Villa Mairea, Maison Louis Carre, Baker House, Stephanuskirche.

8. Ando

Tadao Ando, Japanese “poet in concrete”, is best known for his work, The Church of the Light, built in 1989. It is said that his work creates so-called “haiku” effect that focus attention on simplicity. He is self-taught and traveled during the 1960s to the United States and Europe to see and analyze the greatest architectural works. We will mention just some of his most famous works: Tomishima House in Osaka, Row House, Koshino House, Time’s 1 and Time’s II in Kyoto and The Church of Light.

7. Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, German-American architect, is also the one of the pioneers of Modernism in architecture. His favorite materials were plate glass and steel, and he sought for simplicity and clarity. “Skin and bones” and “Less is more”, he used to say for his own buildings. One of 11 most famous architects in the world made SR Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute of Technology, one of the world’s most astonishing buildings. Some of his best-known works are: The Seagram Building, 860-880 Lake Shore Drive, The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and many more.

6. Hadid

Zaha Hadid’s full name is Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid; she is an Iraqi-British architect who received the RIBA Gold Medal for Architecture this year, in recognition of a lifework by the Royal Institute of British Architects. She received numerous awards for her works, and some of her greatest buildings are: London Aquatics Centre, Riverside Museum, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Guangzhou Opera House, MAXXI, CMA CMG Tower, Bridge Pavilion, Hungerburghbahn Stations, Phaeno Science Centre and many more.

5. I.M. Pei

Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei is the best known for his five beautiful buildings: L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington DC, Roosevelt Field Mall, Miho Museum in Japan, Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar, Jacob Javits Center, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Le Grand Louvre in Paris, among others. He once said that the architect always has to ask himself how does his work affect life.

4. Calatrava

Santiago Calatrava is without question one of 11 most famous architects in the world. He is a neofuturistic architect, painter and sculptor. The New York Times reported recently that his World Trade Transportation Hub’s opening is delayed because of a persistent water leak, but it is going to be opened in few months. It is a Lower Manhattan’s terminal station for PATH rail service, and it is currently being reconstructed. Some of the other most popular Calatrava’s works are: Florida Polytechnic University Main Building, Turning Torso in Malmo, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, The Milwaukee Art Museum, Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Puente de Alamillo, Auditorio de Tenerife, Bahnhof Stadelhofen, Peace Bridge, and many more.

3. Gehry

Frank Owen Gehry’s buildings are attractions, the most important works in contemporary architecture. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, New World Center in Miami Beach, MIT Ray and Maria Stata Center in Cambridge, Dancing House in Prague, 8 Spruce Street (New York by Gehry, 76-story skyscraper) in New York City are just some of his works that we must not omit.

2. Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture gave us timeless works of art, such as masterpiece The Guggenheim Museum in New York, Fallingwater Residence in Mill Run, Arizona State University Gammage Auditorium, Johnson Wax Headquarters, The Frederick C. Robie House in Chicago, Taliesin in Spring Green Wisconsin, etc. Some experts consider him the greatest architect ever; his natural forms seem to blend with nature.

1. Gaudi

There’s no doubt that Antoni Gaudi is the most famous architect and no surprise that he tops our list of 11 most famous architects in the world. He is a Spanish Catalan architect, best known for his Sagrada Familia, large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, which is the most visited monument in Spain. Gaudi was influenced by oriental techniques and neo-gothic art. His works of art that you must see when you visit Barcelona (in case you haven’t visited them already) are: Casa Vicens, Casa Batllo, La Pedrera (Casa Milla), Parc Guell, Palau Guell, Colonia Guell, El Drac de Gaudi at Finca Guell, Casa Calvet, Cascada Fountain.