Maya Lin is an award winning Asian American architect. Lin was born in Athens, Ohio, in 1959. Her parents had come from China to America in the 1940s. They both taught at the University of Ohio. Her father was a ceramicist and the art school’s dean. Her mother was a poet and a professor of literature.
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation
Lin was a talented student. She studied at Yale University. She wanted to major in both sculpture and architecture. The school wouldn’t let her do that. So she enrolled in the architecture programme. However, she still took classes in sculpture.
Biography
A nationwide competition for the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was held in 1980. The memorial was to be constructed in Washington, D.C. The location was between the Lincoln Memorial and the capital.
Its final design was two long, black granite walls. The walls were joined together to form the giant V. On the wall were the names of 58,000 men and women who were killed or missing during the war. The names were written in the order in which they had died or had been reported missing. Design and construction were opposed in favour of a more traditional design.
However, everything changed as people started to visit the monument. Thousands have come to find the names of their loved ones killed in the war. Many of them made rubbings of the engraved names. The memorial has become a place of healing.
She designed the Civil Rights Memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1987. The monument was designed in two parts. There was a black granite disc about 2 metres above sea level first. Twenty-one essential events in the civil rights movement have been written on it. Forty individuals were listed who died in the fight.
Recent works
Redesign of Neilson Library at Smith College
Lin redesigned the 200,000-square-foot building to provide one-stop access to 40,000 linear feet of archived content and a new digital media hub. The centre atrium’s oculus, a round skylight that captures and magnifies external light to create private study nooks, is surrounded by a reflective, curved glass wall. Additionally, she made the grounds public to honour Frederick Law Olmsted’s initial design for the campus as a botanical garden. Lin demonstrated that her whisper still carries weight by transforming the structure into a serene sanctuary for learning.
Lin Work Recognition
Lin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Sources
Byars, M., Riley, T. (2004). (2004). The Encyclopedia of Design. Publishing by Laurence King.
List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. (2023, March 13). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidential_Medal_of_Freedom_recipients
Oh, Lobb, N. [1996]. 16 Outstanding Asian Americans. Publisher of J. Weston Walch.
Presidential lectures: Maya Lin-University of Stanford. https://prelectur.stanford.edu/lecturer/lin/
More Architects
-
Gaudí’s Masterpiece: A First-Time Encounter at Sagrada Família
A couple marvel at Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Família, a representation of Antoni Gaudí’s architectural brilliance and design philosophy. The basilica’s interior offers a tapestry of light and color and, still under construction since 1882, stands as a testament to the evolving nature of art and architecture.Read More →
-
Exploring the Boundless Creativity of Mitchell Joachim
Mitchell Joachim, co-founder of Terreform ONE and NYU Associate Professor, is a renowned figure in innovative design and urban planning. His work merges art, science, bio-inspired, and sustainable design, pushing boundaries in urban architecture.Read More →
-
Exploring the Influence of Pierre Chareau: Architect Designer
Pierre Chareau was a crucial figure in the French avant-garde movement, best known for his Maison de Verre design. He masterfully fused architecture with design, using modern ideas about lighting and space and incorporating industrial materials. His journey started at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, where he learned key principles that shaped his distinct unornamented, minimalist…
-
Oskar Strnad: A Visionary of Applied and Decorative Arts
Oskar Strnad, born in 1879, was a multifaceted genius known for his contributions to architecture, sculpture, and design. Through teaching and designing innovative concepts, he profoundly influenced Viennese modernism and the Vienna School of Architecture.Read More →
-
Bernardo Gómez-Pimienta: A Maestro of Multifaceted Design
Bernardo Gómez-Pimienta, a globally influential figure, blends architecture with furniture design. Born in Belgium and based in Mexico, his works reflect his international background and his focus on functional aesthetics. His career includes academia, architectural identity projects, and award-winning designs. Read More →
-
Jan Fišer: Architecting Designs and Educational Pathways
Czech architect Jan Fišer, born in 1944, is renowned for his design innovation and architectural mastery, including the Generali Česká pojišťovna building. He teaches architecture, continues a family legacy in the field, and co-authored “Transgas”. Read More →
-
The Remarkable Journey of Architect Louis B. Easton
In the early 20th century, Louis B. Easton emerged as a significant figure in American architecture and furniture design. Though never formally registered as an architect, Easton’s contribution to the Arts and Crafts movement was immeasurable. Originating as a vice-principal and manual arts teacher in Illinois, his journey took him to Pasadena, California, where he…
-
Danish Design Legacy: Lars Mathiesen’s Artistic Journey
Experience Lars Mathiesen’s enchanting Café Table, a harmonious fusion of modern design and classic aesthetics. Explore the captivating allure of this collaborative creation with Fritz Hansen.Read More →
-
Joseph Emberton: Rediscovering the Visionary Modernist Architect and Designer
Explore the remarkable legacy of Joseph Emberton, an overlooked yet influential figure in architecture. From iconic structures like the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to comprehensive design solutions for commercial spaces, Emberton’s impact on Modernist architecture is revealed. Delve into his diverse portfolio, including housing, exhibition buildings, and entertainment architecture. Discover how Emberton’s post-war contributions transformed…
-
Sigmund Pollitzer (1913 – 1983) British painter, decorative glass designer and writer
Sigmund Pollitzer (1913 – 1983) was a painter, decorative glass designer, and writer from the United Kingdom. He was born in the city of London.Read More →
-
Max Ernst Haefeli (1901-1976) – Swiss architect and designer
Max Ernst Haefeli (1901-1976) was a Swiss architect and designer born in Zurich. He worked in the Otto Bartning studio in Berlin between 1923-24.Read More →
-
Massimo Morozzi (b. 1941) The Visionary Pioneer of Italian Design
He created Archizoom Associati in 1968 with Andrea Branzi, Gilberto Corretti, and Paolo Deganello, which developed industrial and architectural designs and urban planning and was a notable Italian architecture practice until 1972. Read More →
-
Laura Griziotti (b.1942) Italian Architect & Designer
She began her professional career in 1967; became a member of ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale); 1967—74, she collaborated with architect and designer Cini Boeri. In 1974, she set up her studio in Milan; participated in the planning of the 1971 industrial design exhibition of ADI at the Design Centre, Brussels.Read More →
-
Frederick Gibberd, A Pioneer of Modern Architecture in Britain
Sir Frederick Gibberd was a pioneering architect in Britain known for his modernist designs. He played a significant role in the development of the New Town of Harlow and London’s Heathrow Airport. However, his most renowned masterpiece is Liverpool’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, featuring a circular design, minimal decoration, and a striking stained glass cylinder. Gibberd’s…
-
Giorgina Castiglioni Italian Architect and Designer
Giorgina Castiglioni is an Italian architect and designer who studied architecture at Milan Polytechnic (1969). She is Giannino Castiglioni’s granddaughter, a famous sculptor, and the daughter of Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, an architect and professor. Read More →
-
Eva Jiricna: Architectural Innovations and Collaborations
Eva Jiricna is a renowned architect and designer known for her elegant and innovative creations. From her early career in Prague to establishing her own practice in the UK, Jiricna has left a lasting impact on the industry. Her collaboration with fashion retailer Joseph Ettedgui shaped the iconic matte black style of 1980s London. With…
-
El Lissitzky (1890 – 1941) Russian artist and architect
El Lissitzky (1890 – 1941) Russian artist and architect, he was linked with MODERNIST organisations, including Suprematism and DE STIJL.Read More →
-
Franco Deboni (b.1950) Italian architect and glassware designer
He worked for various firms in Italy and Yugoslavia. He received a patent for a bookcase-component system. Clients included Ferro & Lazzarini (glassware) and Italianline. He was best known for his lighting in glass and a mushroom-shaped table lamp in marble; became a member of ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale); was author of Venini…
-
Gino Valle (1923 – 2003) Italian architect, designer and town planner
Gino Valle (1923 – 2003) was. Italian architect, designer, and town planner. He was born in Udine. He studied at the Instituto Universitario di Architettura, Venice, to 1948. From 1951, he was at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts.Read More →
-
Jaromir Krejcar (1895-1949), Czech architect and furniture designer
From 1922 to its close in 1931, he was a member of the Devétsil group and editor of the compendium Zivot II and journal Disk; in 1922, he worked in the office of architect Josef Gocar. In 1923, he set up his own office in Prague; was the Bauhaus representative in Czechoslovakia. He was a…
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like
Maya Romanoff American textile designer – Encyclopedia of Design
Maya Romanoff was an American Textile Designer. He studied at the University of California at Berkeley. When he saw tie-dyed t-shirts at Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, Maya Romanoff discovered the magic of dying t-shirts. His profound fascination with colours and fabric led him to start the Skokie Corporation, a business that has grown into $18 million company known for its handmade wall coverings.
Sydney Art Deco by Peter Sheridan – Encyclopedia of Design
Longlisted for the Indie Book Awards 2020 for Illustrated Non-Fiction* For the first time, Sydney’s Art Deco buildings of the 1930s and 1940s are identified and gloriously displayed with contemporary photographs alongside archival images. Sydney Art Deco explores the impact of the Art Deco style on the landscape and life of Sydney during the 1930s and 1940s.