Asian American Architects

Their history, works, and influences.

The Low Profiles of Asian American Architects

There are, unfortunately, only a handful of well-known Asian American architects and hardly any famous architects that hail from the Pacific Islands. When we think of famous late 20th-century/ 21st century architects, we often only recall those who are Caucasian or European, with only one or two top Asian Americans such as Maya Lin or I.M. Pei.

The goal of this tumblr blog is to not only showcase the achievements of famous Asian American architects like Maya Lin or I.M. Pei but also bring other, lesser known, yet equally important Asian American architects into the light. This tumblr blog also seeks to enlighten people on their works, some of which may be surprisingly more famous than their creators.

Minoru Yamasaki Minoru Yamasaki was born in Seattle, WA, 1912. He went to the University of Washington to study architecture, and later went on to New York University. During World War II, Yamasaki and his family also were threatened with internment in the Japanese-American camps, however, he managed to escape it through his employment at an architecture firm and he also “sheltered his parents”. Yamasaki continued then moved to Detroit, where he created numerous building designs for the city and its surrounding areas. In addition to local works, he also went on to create international airports, and perhaps most famously, the former World Trade Center in New York City.

Minoru Yamasaki

Minoru Yamasaki was born in Seattle, WA, 1912. He went to the University of Washington to study architecture, and later went on to New York University. During World War II, Yamasaki and his family also were threatened with internment in the Japanese-American camps, however, he managed to escape it through his employment at an architecture firm and he also “sheltered his parents”. Yamasaki continued then moved to Detroit, where he created numerous building designs for the city and its surrounding areas. In addition to local works, he also went on to create international airports, and perhaps most famously, the former World Trade Center in New York City.

One Woodward Avenue (Minoru Yamasaki, Detroit, MI, 1962)

One Woodward Avenue (Minoru Yamasaki, Detroit, MI, 1962)

Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Minoru Yamasaki, Oberlin, OH, 1963)

Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Minoru Yamasaki, Oberlin, OH, 1963)

World Trade Center (Former) (Minoru Yamasaki, New York, NY, 1973-2001)

World Trade Center (Former) (Minoru Yamasaki, New York, NY, 1973-2001)

Fazlur Rahman Khan Fazlur Khan was born in Shibchar Upazila, Bangladesh, 1929. He grew up there went to the Bengal Engineering and Science University, and later did his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He mostly worked in Chicago, and eventually played a crucial role in the “Second Chicago School” style of the 40’s to 70’s. In addition, Khan came up with the innovative “tube structural system” for skyscrapers, replacing the earlier, “rigid, steel frame structure”. His works include the Willis (Sears) Tower, the John Hancock Center, and the One Magnificent Mile, all located in Chicago.

Fazlur Rahman Khan

Fazlur Khan was born in Shibchar Upazila, Bangladesh, 1929. He grew up there went to the Bengal Engineering and Science University, and later did his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He mostly worked in Chicago, and eventually played a crucial role in the “Second Chicago School” style of the 40’s to 70’s. In addition, Khan came up with the innovative “tube structural system” for skyscrapers, replacing the earlier, “rigid, steel frame structure”. His works include the Willis (Sears) Tower, the John Hancock Center, and the One Magnificent Mile, all located in Chicago.

One Magnificent Mile (Fazlur Rahman Khan, Chicago, Illinois, 1983)

One Magnificent Mile (Fazlur Rahman Khan, Chicago, Illinois, 1983)

John Hancock Center (Fazlur Rahman Khan, Chicago, Illinois, 1970)

John Hancock Center (Fazlur Rahman Khan, Chicago, Illinois, 1970)

Willis (Sears) Tower (Fazlur Rahman Khan, Chicago, Illinois, 1973)

Willis (Sears) Tower (Fazlur Rahman Khan, Chicago, Illinois, 1973)

Gyo Obata Gyo Obata was born in San Francisco, 1923. During the World War II, Obata’s family was held in one of the numerous Japanese-American internment camps. Obata himself escaped this fate by transferring from the School of Architecture at UC Berkeley to Washington University in St. Louis, “the only University in the United States willing to accept Japanese nationals at that time”. He went on to study at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomingfield Hills, MI. His works range from the local Northwood IV Apartments at the University of Michigan to the international Taipei World Trade Center in Taipei, Taiwan.

Gyo Obata

Gyo Obata was born in San Francisco, 1923. During the World War II, Obata’s family was held in one of the numerous Japanese-American internment camps. Obata himself escaped this fate by transferring from the School of Architecture at UC Berkeley to Washington University in St. Louis, “the only University in the United States willing to accept Japanese nationals at that time”. He went on to study at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomingfield Hills, MI. His works range from the local Northwood IV Apartments at the University of Michigan to the international Taipei World Trade Center in Taipei, Taiwan.