At the forefront of architectural design since beginning his practice in 1964, Michael Graves can be counted among such architectural heavyweights as Robert Venturi, Frank Gehry, and Charles Gwathmey. Graves' work has diverted the evolution of urban architecture away from Modernist...
[more]At the forefront of architectural design since beginning his practice in 1964, Michael Graves can be counted among such architectural heavyweights as Robert Venturi, Frank Gehry, and Charles Gwathmey. Graves' work has diverted the evolution of urban architecture away from Modernist abstraction and toward more contextual and traditional themes. In his appreciation of both ancient and modern architecture, Graves consistently demonstrates his ability to create site-appropriate designs that synthesize traditional and contemporary architectural principles. Witness the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, which include painted ocean waves, banana leaves, seashells, fountains, blue-green tones, colorful canopies, and, on the Swan Hotel, two huge swans that stretch their wings along the roof of the 12-story structure. Or examine the Portland Building, which features blue ceramic panels and cream-colored stone; its lively shapes, colors, and textures seem to vibrate with the Oregon skyline. Or consider the Humana Building, Graves' 27-story high-rise in Louisville, Kentucky, which boasts its own glass pyramid built above the entrance and a porch located on the 25th floor.
Though he believes that architecture and design can serve social ends, Graves admits that he is really just a "general practitioner" with a penchant for sketching furniture, umbrellas, wallets, wall clocks -- just about anything he can put his unique spin on. He has taught at Princeton University since 1962 and is a fellow of The American Institute of Architects.
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