From early influences and city planning to artistic collaborations and material experimentation, each section offers insight into the ideas, values, and cultural connections that shaped Pei’s architectural vision across decades and continents.
Life Is Architecture: About the Galleries
This exhibition is organised into six sections, where visitors will discover how visionary architect I. M. Pei shaped the built environment through a lifetime of transcultural dialogue, innovation, and reflection.
Pei’s Cross-Cultural Foundations
Learn about how visionary architect I. M. Pei’s early experiences in China and education in the United States shaped his approach to modern architecture.
Real Estate and Urban Redevelopment
Learn more about how I. M. Pei transformed urban landscapes through innovative design that united modern architecture with community and cultural identity.
Art and Civic Form
Step inside the world of I. M. Pei and experience how his visionary museum designs transform art, architecture, and public spaces.
Power, Politics, and Patronage
Learn about I. M. Pei’s visionary architecture and global impact, featuring highlights like the iconic Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha.
Material and Structural Innovation
Learn about I. M. Pei’s revolutionary use of materials and geometry, from concrete and glass to steel, shaping iconic buildings across the globe.
Reinterpreting History through Design
Learn about how I. M. Pei redefined modern architecture by blending innovation with cultural heritage and timeless design across the globe.
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