Pei and his firm have been awarded countless prizes for creating buildings
of endless
beauty, for bringing together people across the world through his architecture. The
memorable ones and top in the hierarchy were the Gold Medal of the American Institute of
Architecture, Medal of Liberty and Medal of Freedom.
Pei in his acceptance
speech, when he won the 1983 International Pritzker Architecture Prize said, "I take
particular pleasure in thanking those who conceived the prize, those who have administered
it and the distinguished jurors who have seen fit to select me as this year’s
recipient.
So I accept this prize for all who have worked with me in this unique undertaking. Let us all be attentive to new ideas, to advancing means, to drawing needs, to impetuses of change so that we may achieve, beyond architectural originality, a harmony of spirit in the service of man."
The Pritzker award landed him with a prize money of $100,000. He established a scholarship fund for Chinese architecture students. He made provision for them to come to the US and avail all benefits and to equip themselves as good architects.
A documentary movie First
Person Singular I M Pei was produced on Pei. The legend leads viewers through a
kaleidoscope tour of his life’s work. It is a masterpiece by the Lives and Legacies
Films, produced by Emmy Award winner Peter Rosen.
The Chinese born American
architect frankly discusses the contrasting influences of those who have shaped his
career, including real estate tycoon William Zeckendorf, former French President Francois
Mitterrand, the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and architects with whom he studied and
worked.
Pei discusses his
boyhood, his decision to come to the United States to study engineering and his conversion
to architecture. He modestly describes his rise to fame and his prize commissions. He
speaks about his luck "of being in the right place at the right time."
First Person Singular
I M Pei is a personal view of a full life. It is a compelling story of great
architectural achievement, intellectual strength and warm humanity.
As a student, he was
awarded the MIT Travelling Fellowship, and the Wheelwright Travelling Fellowship at
Harvard. |
