2011 AIA Gold Medal Awarded to Fumihiko Maki

In recognition of his lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture, Fumihiko Maki was recently named the 2011 AIA Gold Medal Winner. Maki, arguably one of Japan’s most distinguished living architects, will be honored at the 2011 AIA National Convention in New Orleans.

Annenberg Public Policy Center by Fumihiko Maki. Published in: METALOCUS-026. Photograph by Jeffrey Totaro.

“He has a unique style of Modernism that is infused with an ephemeral quality and elegance which reflects his Japanese origin. What stands out most about Mr. Maki is the consistent quality of his work at the highest caliber and the creation of ineffable atmospheres; his buildings convey a quiet and elegant moment of reflection,” colleague Toshiko Mori, FAIA, said of Maki.

Maki studied at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Cranbrook Academy of Art, but has spent the majority of his life in Japan.

Examples of Maki’s work include:

The Spiral in Tokyo, Japan
The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California
The Kaze-No-Oka Crematorium in Kyushu, Japan
Triad in Nagano, Japan
The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Maki is the 67th AIA Gold Medalist and joins a prestigious list including Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Renzo Piano, I.M. Pei, Cesar Pelli, Santiago Calatrava and last year’s recipient, Peter Bohlin, FAIA.

He has received numerous awards including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1993.

Published in: M-026 | A.03 | p. 42
"Annenberg Public Policy Center" University of Pennsylvania | Fumihiko Maki. Maki and Associates

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Elevation. "Annenberg Public Policy Center". Published in: METALOCUS-026

"Annenberg Public Policy Center". Published in: METALOCUS-026

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Fumihiko Maki

Fumihiko Maki. Born in Tokio in 1928. Graduated from the University of Tokyo Department of Architecture in 1952. Holds a master's degree at Cranbrook Academy of Art and the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Worked at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Sert Jackson and Associates. Taught as associate professor at the University of Washington and Harvard University from 1956 to 1965. Returned to Japan in 1965 and established Maki and Associates. Taught as a professor at the University of Tokyo from 1979 to 1989. Notable awards include the 1988 Wolf Prize in Arts, the 1990 Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture, the 1993 International Union of Architects (UIA) Gold Medal and the Prince of Wales Prize in Urban Design presented by Harvard University, the 1999 Arnold Brunner Memorial Architecture Award and the Praemium Imperiale for Architecture. Was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1993 and received the Gold Medal from the AIA American Institute of Architects in 2011.

Maki and Associates was established in 1965 by Fumihiko Maki, upon his return from a ten year period of study, teaching, and practice in the United States. The office has been based in Tokyo throughout its 42 year history, and is currently staffed by forty architects, urban designers, and administrative personnel. This size has been purposefully limited to enable Maki to maintain a close working relationship with each firm member, and daily involvement with each project. Maki personally takes a leadership role in all commissions from design inception through to completion (including construction supervision).

http://www.maki-and-associates.co.jp/e/index.shtml