Visionary and daring, the famous architects are those who came out of the box and presented innovative projects to the world, whether in design or in the use of unconventional materials.
And today we bring you the greatest icons of world architecture, as well as the projects of famous architects who surprised the world with their ingenuity. Let’s check it out?
Contemporary famous architects
The contemporary era, the one we live in today, started there in the French Revolution, in the year of 1789.
Since then, many architectural styles have emerged, such as the romantic and the baroque. But it was only in the last century that architecture saw the emergence of projects capable of defying logic. This is all thanks to the period of the Industrial Revolution that released materials that were hitherto unexplored in architecture, such as steel and reinforced concrete.
Check out which are the most famous architects in the contemporary world:
1. Antonio Gaudí
Antonio Gaudí was born in Reus, Spain in 1852 and is considered one of the most important contemporary famous architects in history. His main project was the Cathedral La Sagrada Familia, a postcard of Barcelona and which is still under construction.
The work is expected to be delivered in 2026. When it is ready, this will be the tallest cathedral in Europe, at 172 meters high.
With a style that mixed Gothic and Baroque elements, Gaudí died in 1926 and never got to see his project finished.
2. Le Corbusier
Swiss Le Corbusier, born in 1887, was one of the main names in modern architecture at the beginning of the 20th century. The famous contemporary architect used mathematical measures to create his designs, always inspired by functionality and logic.
One of his main works is the Villa Savoye and the Unitè d’Habitacion, both in France. Le Corbusier died in 1965.
3. Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe
The German architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe was born in 1886, in the city of Aquisagrana and died in 1969. Van der Rohe was one of the main names in modern minimalist architecture and his famous phrase “less is more”.
It was his idea to use steel and glass in the projects in order to seek a clean aesthetic.
Van der Rohe still brings in his curriculum the position of director of the Bauhaus, the main modernist school of the 20th century.
4. M. Pei
Most likely, you know the work, but you may not know the name behind it. We are talking here about the Louvre Pyramid, designed by Chinese architect IM Pei.
Despite discarding the title of modernist, Pei’s works are always full of geometric shapes and right angles.
5. Frank Gehry
Canadian architect Frank Gehry was born in 1929. At the age of 92, he is one of the most important contemporary famous architects in history. His obas, based on deconstructivist architecture, are impressive and defy the eye.
One of the main ones is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. He is also responsible for Facebook’s new headquarters project and the Louis Vuitton Foundation project.
6. Frank Lloyd Wright
The North American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in 1867 and died in 1959. He can be considered the father of organic architecture, since his projects challenged the balance and perfect coexistence between nature and human beings.
One of his most emblematic works is the Casa da Cascata, in the United States.
7. Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid is the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize, the most important in architecture in the world, placing her on the list of the most famous architects in the world.
Born in 1950 in Iraq, Zaha passed away in 2016. The main feature of her designs was the futuristic lines, full of curves and organic influences.
Among its main projects is the Aljada Central Hub, in the United Arab Emirates.
8. Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano was born in Italy in 1939. Today, at the age of 83, Renzo is on the list of the most important contemporary famous architects.
One of his main works is The Shard, a building in London that changed the scenery of the English capital.
9. Shigeru Ban
Another big name among famous contemporary architects is the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, born in 1957.
In full activity, Ban stands out for the use of unconventional materials such as cardboard and paper. In one of his works, he used, for example, cardboard tubes to build the Cardboard Cathedral (or, in Portuguese, Cardboard Cathedral), in New Zealand.
Another surprising project by the architect is La Seine Musicale, in Paris.
10. Norman Foster
At 86 years old, Norman Foster is another great architectural genius and stands out among famous contemporary architects. The highlight of his works is the use of state-of-the-art technology, being responsible for creating the high-tech movement in architecture.
The architect signed numerous projects between buildings, galleries and airports. But perhaps one of his most iconic works is the project for a space station on Mars.
Brazilian famous architects
Brazil is also a granary of great names in world architecture. And for those who think that the only famous Brazilian architect is Oscar Niemeyer, he made a big mistake.
Certainly, Oscar Niemeyer is one of the greatest representatives of Brazilian architecture, but there is a list with other names of talent and ingenuity, check it out.
1. Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer’s name goes very well between two lists: that of famous contemporary architects in the world and famous Brazilian architects.
This great name in Brazilian architecture is responsible for signing modernist projects such as Edificio Copan and the public buildings of Brasilia.
Niemeyer’s ingenuity was recognized through the various awards received by the architect, including the Pritzker, known as the Nobel Prize for Architecture.
2. Lucio Costa
Lucio Costa is another famous Brazilian architect who stood out not only in Brazil, but in the world.
Together with Niemeyer, he carried out the entire urban plan for Brasília. The modernist influence focused on the social needs of the Brazilian people is the architect’s main mark.
3. Lina Bo Bardi
Lina Bo Bardi, an Italian naturalized Brazilian, is the most famous architect in Brazil. She designed, nothing more, nothing less than MASP (São Paulo Art Museum).
Another outstanding work by Lina is the Glass House, where the modernist features are surprising.
4. Ruy Ohtake
Ruy Ohtake stands out not only for its architectural projects, such as the Hotel Unique, in São Paulo, but for its furniture design/
The São Paulo native integrates the list of famous Brazilian architects for betting on the use of organic, bold and daring forms.
5. Roberto Burle Marx
Architect and landscape designer, Burle Marx is another reference in Brazilian architecture. Burle Marx’s name is recognized worldwide thanks to his projects that reflect the soul and natural beauty of Brazil.
In his portfolio, Burle Marx brings together more than two thousand landscape projects, highlighting and valuing the rich Brazilian flora.
6. Rosa Kliass
Rosa Kliass is a famous Brazilian architect who stood out, above all, for her landscaping projects. The most famous of them is the Youth Park in São Paulo.
Through her work, Rosa Kliass helped lay the foundations for Brazilian landscaping.
7. Marcio Kogan
Marcio Kogan is one of the most renowned Brazilian architects today. Its projects emphasize sophistication combined with simplicity. For this reason, it is common to find a mix of materials in his works, especially wood and concrete.
One of Kogan’s most famous works is Livraria Cultura, in São Paulo, where you can clearly see the architect’s modern and minimalist style.
8. Isay Weinfeld
Isay Weinfeld is recognized in Brazil and around the world for his modern and elegant works.
The most famous is the 360 building, located in São Paulo. The work has won famous awards, such as Future Projects from the renowned magazine Architectural Review.
9. Paulo Mendes Rocha
Another name for his list of famous Brazilian architects: Paulo Mendes Rocha.
The architect brings in his curriculum awards such as the Pritzker, the Golden Lion (Italy) and the Imperial Prize (Japan).
10. Vilanova Artigas
Architect Vilanova Artigas is another great name in Brazilian modern architecture.
One of the architect’s main works is the new headquarters of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the University of São Paulo (FAU).
Influenced by names such as Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, Vilanova Artigas’ residential works reflect the modernist, functional and organic concept of housing.
Projects by famous architects
Check out the top 10 with the projects of the most famous architects in the world:
- Guggenheim Museum New York, United States – Frank Lloyd Wright
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain – Frank Gehry
- Center Georges Pompidou, Paris, France – Renzo Piano and Richards Rogers
- The Shard, London, England – Renzo Piano
- Glass House, Connecticut, United States – Mies Van der Rohe
- Cascade House, Pennsylvania, United States – Frank Lloyd Wright
- Hotel Unique, São Paulo, Brazil – Ruy Ohtake
- Masp, São Paulo, Brazil – Lina Bo Bardi
- Museum of Contemporary Art of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Oscar Niemeyer
- Louvre Pyramid, Paris, France – IM Pei
