John Portman's main experience

John Portman (1924 65438+February 4-2017 65438+February 29) is an American architect and designer. Graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, winner of Pulitzer Prize, winner of American Association of Design and Architecture Lifetime Achievement Award, and his design works include Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Peach Tree Center, Waldorf Astoria on the Bund, etc. He is known as "the father of atrium" and "the designer who changed the skyline of cities all over the world".

20 17 12.29, John Portman died in America at the age of 93.

Chinese name: John Portman

Place of birth: Atlanta

Date of birth:1924 65438+February 4th.

Date of death: 2065438+February 29th, 2007.

Occupation: architect and designer

Graduate school: Georgia Institute of Technology

Masterpiece: Island in the Island

The life of the character

Portman was born in Atlanta, the only son of six daughters of John Portman and Edna Portman. He grew up within walking distance of Peachtree Street. He helped change this street, received education and started his unique career.

When he was very young, he sold magazines on the street corner and sold goods to people in the theater on Peachtree Street. He was very entrepreneurial. His leadership and foresight have laid a good foundation for him to transform the base of his childhood enterprise into a commercial center in the south and a beautiful southern city into a vibrant world commercial metropolis in the future.

As a student, he is good at mathematics and inherits his mother's love for art. In junior high school, a mechanical drawing course changed his education and life. He fell in love with this major the first time he came into contact with architecture. He persuaded the school administrator to allow him to merge the preparatory course of boys' middle school with the architectural technology course of technical middle school. This love for architecture from the age of 15 has never changed. After graduating from high school, he joined the navy and got the opportunity to study at the United States Naval Academy. After World War II, he refused to join the army to study architecture. As a married student and father, he shuttled between Georgia Institute of Technology, ketchum, Gina and Sharp Construction Company and H.M. Heatley's office. The business design experience he gained enabled him to gain insight into people's reaction to design and its influence on people. This ability is reflected in his later works.

1950 after obtaining a bachelor's degree in architecture, I worked in Steven &; Wilkinson worked as an intern for three years. 1953, he set up his own two-person company in downtown Atlanta, and merged with the mature H.GriffithEdwards office three years later. Edwards is Portman's professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. The company's names were Edwards and Portman until Edwards retired 1968, and the company was renamed John Portman Architectural Design Office.

Under the leadership of John Portman, the firm has developed into an internationally renowned architectural design and engineering company, with offices in Atlanta, USA and Shanghai, China, and designed many landmark urban commercial complexes, hotels, office buildings, commercial centers and universities.

Portman is willing to invest in his own projects, and his determination to devote himself to art and architecture is very obvious from the beginning. His first task is to transform the eagle boy's building. In this project, he wants to add a metal sculpture of a contemporary eagle. The shopkeeper likes the idea very much, but he doesn't want to pay for this artwork. Portman built the statue with his own money and integrated the artwork into the project as an integral part. His unique entrepreneurial spirit continues to deepen. His early architectural works included many schools and small commercial buildings, but he tried to seek opportunities to change the southern United States. According to his experience in design business, he saw Atlanta's demand for retail exhibition space. As a businessman, he tried to rent a 40,000-square-foot wholesale exhibition hall from the parking lot to a furniture manufacturer. The success of the project led to the planning of larger facilities. He thinks bigger and is eager to complete the concept of exhibition market. With the support of investors, he designed and built the Atlanta Commodity Exhibition Center with a square foot of/kloc-0.0 million, which was the initial project of Peachtree Street Center, and began the process of transforming Atlanta into the third largest convention and trade center in the United States. The economic success of the exhibition center has stimulated other development projects.

When he performed his duties as an architect as a developer, he used his own philosophy of trust, which was deeply influenced by RalphWaldoEmerson's works. His building was influenced by FrankLloydWright, a visiting lecturer at Portman, Georgia Institute of Technology. Like Wright, he focused on the system of making buildings orderly, and regarded it as an organic unified concept of designing ideal state. He also believes that architecture is a comprehensive major and should form and guide all aspects of life. In order to speed up this process, Portman expects to become an architect/developer, which will enable him to better control the fate of his own projects.

1960, during the construction of Atlanta commodity exhibition center, Portman went to the new capital of Brazil and was praised by many people. Looking forward to visiting a new city designed by a famous architect, he was disappointed in Brasilia, because the barren environment of the new city did not show any understanding of human nature, nor did he hope that people would be integrated with the environment. He vowed to create a more reflective plan for urban design.

The Peach Tree Center became his model, his own home and his laboratory for realizing many architectural concepts. Exploring indoor space, combining natural elements with man-made environment, and providing order and diversity at the same time are some concepts he explored when seeking to create a more humanized environment.

Soon, the exhibition center's demand for more downtown hotel space led to the design and development of Portman's first hotel project. He knows that the success of the hotel must also attract other tourists, not just the customers in the exhibition center. Space itself needs an attractive image.

By carefully reflecting on the standard city hotel, he re-emphasized the guest experience. The environment of the new hotel is just the opposite of the limited environment of the traditional city hotel. The new hotel is built around a 22-story atrium with a glass car elevator, providing an architectural tour from the atrium to the revolving roof restaurant. The concept was so radical at that time that when the company that originally invested in the hotel had a new president, they decided not to continue the hotel project and quit. Portman needs to buy this project, or he will lose it. When he introduced this project to every major hotel owner in China, his commitment and perseverance were put to the most important test. Nobody wants any roles. Finally, he contacted HyattHouse, a company with a small motel chain network on the west coast, which later developed into a global Hyatt Group. Because of the foresight of the Pritzker family, Hyatt bought the hotel and applied their successful motel operation to the hotel operation. HyattRegency Atlanta Hotel was immediately popular, which made Portman's hotel design recognized by the international architectural community.

While the Peach Tree Center with interconnected office buildings, restaurants and shops continued to develop in Atlanta, Portman was asked to help other cities develop. In San Francisco, architect/developer Portman and his development partners DavidRockefeller and TrammellCrowe were selected by the Golden Gate Urban Renewal Authority to rebuild a dilapidated five-block warehouse area. Four high-rise office buildings in Embarcadero Center and a hotel with a dynamic atrium are connected by multi-storey retail malls, footbridges and green squares. Embarcadero Center became a catalyst for regional development, and was quickly awarded a large-scale urban development excellence award by the Urban Land Association. Soon, Portman developed three adjacent blocks.

In Detroit, Henry Ford sought Portman's help to stop urban migration and designed the Renaissance Center. In Los Angeles, the Bonaventure Hotel Project started the reconstruction of the BunkerHill part of the city. In new york, Mayor Lindsay sought his help to revitalize the deteriorating theater district in Times Square. When the MarriottMarquis Hotel and Theatre in new york was completed, the whole project lasted 14 years, with three mayors. Combining the tasks of architects and developers, the knowledge foresight of each project has increased. Designers and developers work as a whole.

His international projects began with the design and development of Brussels International Trade Exhibition Center in 1975, and then turned to the Far East. Regent Hotel in Singapore is the first international hotel after Marina Plaza, which is a large-scale comprehensive project including three hotels and a large retail mall. As a developer and architect, he plans ambitiously that this 4 million square foot project should not be completed by stages, but by one project. Although the scale and complexity of the project are enormous, Marina Square reflects his concern about the structure of things and the scale of humanization. When projects in Hongkong, Malaysia and Indonesia were in progress, he entered the China market with 1980 and worked closely with one of his sons, JohnC. Portman III (Jack). He was one of the first American architects to enter the China market after China opened its doors to the west. Portman led the development of Shanghai Center, which is a large-scale comprehensive project, including hotels, office buildings, residences, shopping centers and exhibition spaces. Once again, through persistence and long-term commitment to the government of China, the company opened the project at 1990. Its success is enormous, and it is described by China Journal as one of the five architectural stars in Chinese mainland. Today, Portman still designs many landmark projects in China, such as Beijing Yintai Center, Shanghai Tomorrow Plaza, Shanghai Golden Bund Center, Shanghai Bund waldorf, Shanghai Golden Hongqiao International Center, Shanghai World Expo Hotel Group, etc. Portman is mainly engaged in the design of commercial complexes, high-end hotels, office buildings and high-end pension projects in China.

Portman is constantly exploring space and new methods to create a better environment for our society, and the concept of architecture is constantly being tested. Perhaps his most imaginative exploration was in EntelechyII, Georgia, when designing his second home. This project was completed on 1986. After several years of careful planning, this seaside house embodies the essence of his design philosophy in a private way. You can see the same design concept in many of his recent works. Although EntelechyII is an architectural exhibition place, it is still a home, a space for activities and relaxation.

In the process of designing and developing these numerous projects, the new Portman Company was established to provide a full range of services, including design, development, management and finance. The company has developed from a two-person company to a global organization headquartered in Atlanta.

Portman believes that an isolated architect will not be understood, and he must participate in public activities to show himself. He has been an active participant in town and community activities. Because of his participation, five areas have been strongly influenced by him: racial harmony, downtown development, art, humanitarianism and the international community.

As a founding member of ActionForum, Portman is one of the behind-the-scenes business leaders of more than 20 influential bi-ethnic groups. Help Atlanta become a model city of racial integration in the 1960s. His stylish new restaurant on the top floor of the exhibition center was once the first racially integrated restaurant in Atlanta. He advocated cooperation to create employment opportunities and provide opportunities for the economic development of blacks. His commitment to justice and equal opportunities has won awards one after another, such as 199 1 Outstanding Community Service Award from Atlanta Metropolitan Union, 1993 Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Award from Golden Center, and 1994 Freedom Torch Award from Anti-Defamation League (ADL) (ADL).

His active participation in urban activities proves his commitment to urban development. From 1969-7 1, as the chairman of the Atlanta Development Association, he led the first comprehensive study of the urban area. He was an advocate of building an urban rapid railway system in the 1970s. He is committed to making the international airport close to the central business district, and initiated the concept of Georgia World Convention Center to promote the growing conference industry in Atlanta. He served as the head of the business office twice and held positions in many other important office organizations.

When many urban enterprises moved to the suburbs, he continued to invest in strengthening buildings and projects in central cities. He believes that a city is like a human body, and its heart must be strong. It took him 30 years to build this complex, and now it has18.4 million square feet, spanning 13 city blocks. Although the size of the peach tree center is not as important as the urban environment it creates. But this is a humanized space. Green spaces and squares are embedded in high-rise buildings, and overpasses connect hotels, shops, office buildings and convention centers. Works of art abound.

Large-scale works of art are part of Peach Tree Center, Embarcadero Center and many other Portman projects. Portman's support for art is not only reflected in his generous support for many organizations, but also in his integration of sculptures, tapestries and paintings into architectural works. Art has not become a part of architecture, but is truly presented in its own image. Over the years, he has used many large-scale works of art in his projects. In the early 1980s, he became a painter and sculptor (he used his creative spirit to design furniture and lighting devices for his home and many commercial projects), and painting soon became another passion of his. Painting is first hung only in the office of the company or in the home of oneself and friends. He exhibited his paintings and several sculptures for the first time in public, in his latest office building-Peach Tree Center Sun Trust and Investment Plaza 1. These sculptures were specially created by him for the First Peach Tree Center.

While devoting himself to urban and artistic activities, Portman continued to support humanitarianism in medical research. His company was praised by the American Business Office for taking the lead in educating employees about AIDS in the workplace. His company sponsored many fund-raising activities to help members of the design industry whose lives were affected by AIDS. Portman himself played an active role in the activity.

His role in the international community is equally important. He was knighted by the King of Belgium and 1967- 1996 was appointed honorary consul of Denmark in Atlanta.

John Portman wrote in 1964 that through success, a person has accomplished his contribution, and contribution is the greatest reward in life. His contribution can be well evaluated.

prize record

20 13 John Portman film-architecture and life

It is broadcast by many radio and television organizations in the United States and Britain.

20 13 winners of the four pillars award

American Urban Development Association

20 1 1 Atlanta renamed HarrisStreet to John Portman Avenue.

Atlanta City Council, USA

Tallins Biddle Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009

American Housing and Urban Construction Committee

2003 hall of fame

Trends in Georgia, 2003

Dansweet Award

Atlanta Development Association Center, 2002.

100 the most influential Georgian

Trends in Georgia, 2002

Atlanta business celebrities

Business-to-business, April 2000

/kloc-Georgians in the 0/9th century

Tide in Georgia, 5-38 June 2000+10.

The most influential Atlanta man

Atlanta Business Chronicle, 1999

Lifetime Achievement Award

American Institute of Design and Architecture, 1999

1999 Atlanta conference &; Tourism bureau celebrity memorial hall

1February 25th, 999, one of the first members.

FrankCarter Community Achievement Award

Urban Land Association, 1998

Legendary real estate honor award

A visionary leader in Atlanta's real estate industry, 1998

Atlanta international business award

Atlanta Business Chronicle, 1998

Faithful Service Award of Atlanta Architectural Spirit and Culture Association: Wei Neglia Bauer.

Emory University and MichaelC. Carlos Museum, 1997.

Member of national association

Art museums and schools, 1997

Senateoftheaccademia internazionardmoderna select member

AngelOrensanz Foundation, Rome, Italy, 1996.

Best candidate for outstanding contribution and support to the community award

Southern talents, 1994

Freedom torch award

Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 1994

Honorary professorship degree

Shenyang Institute of Architecture and Engineering, Shenyang, 1993.

International affairs award

Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, 1993

Martin Luther King-Achievement Award

Golden Center, 1993

100 the most influential Georgian

Georgia Tide, 1993

Vocational service award

AIA Atlanta Branch, 1992

Doctor of Arts Honorary Degree

Atlanta University of the Arts, 1992

Outstanding community service award

Atlanta Urban Union, 199 1

AD 100 architect

Architectural Abstracts, 199 1 August

Outstanding service award

Atlanta Business Alliance, 199 1

The famous celebrity trail in Atlanta, Georgia-International Avenue

Atlanta Commercial Office, 199 1

100 the most influential Georgian

Tides in Georgia, 199 1

Atlanta Business Hall of Fame

Youth Achievement Committee and Atlanta Business Chronicle, 199 1

Member of PaulHarris Foundation

Rotary International Foundation, 199 1

HoratioAlger Award

HoratioAlger Institute, 1990

Atlanta Entrepreneur Hall of Fame

Atlanta Entrepreneur Network, 1990

Noun (abbreviation of Noun) H.F.A Conference Outstanding Service Award

National Household Furniture Association, 1990

100 the most influential Georgian

Trends in Georgia, 2002

City image building award

Atlanta convention and tourism bureau, 1988

Platinum ring award

Restaurant and Hotel Magazine, 1987

Trend creation award

International Association of Food Service Consultants, 1987

Business hall of fame

School of Business Administration, Georgia State University, 1987.

Person of the year award

American Association of Denmark, 1986

Community development award

Atlanta Business Alliance, 1986

Father of the year award

Southeast Father's Day Committee, 1986

Interpersonal Association Award

American Jewish Committee, 1985

Outstanding achievement award

Georgia Institute of Technology Alumni Association, 1985

Georgia annual spokesman

EmoryChapterofDeltaSigmaRho-taukapaalpha，honoraryforensicfraternity， 1985

Outstanding Award of Embarcadero Center

Urban Land Association, 1984

Outstanding service award

Atlanta Imperial Real Estate Bureau, 1984

Silver Award for Innovative Design

American Institute of Architects, Atlanta Branch, 1980

Archbishop of outstanding architecture award

Greek Orthodox Congress, 1980

Old Ivanalen Award

American Institute of Architects North Georgia Branch, 1979

AIA Hotel Design Innovation Award

National Institute of Architects, 1978

Town leader award

Atlanta Association of Building Owners and Managers, 1977

Georgia Outstanding Service Award

Georgia Institute of Business and Technology, 1997

honorable mention

National Committee for Community Service for International Tourists, 1976.

Obyt。 Brewer prize

Atlanta Conference &; Tourism Bureau, 1976

Los Angeles Headquarters City Association Award

Bonaventure Hotel Los Angeles, 1976

Georgia Man of the Year Award

Georgia Broadcasting Institute, 1976

Alcide Wolff Award

American Association of Interior Designers, new york Metropolitan Branch, 1976.

Royal Belgian official order

King of Belgium, 1975

Royal knighthood

Queen of Denmark, 1975

Steel structure design award

American Iron and Steel Association, 1975

Honorary doctor of law

Emory University, 1974

Omicron Delta Kappa

Georgia State University, 1974

An outstanding humanist

National Jewish Hospital, 1973

Atlanta Urban Design Committee Award

Atlanta Town Design Institute, 1973

Taussig Maderta Honorary Association Award

Georgia Institute of Technology, 1972

Gold medal award

American Academy of Achievement, 1968

Salesman of the year award

Atlanta Sales &; Market research institute, 1968

Outstanding public relations contribution award

American Public Relations Association, Atlanta Branch, 1967.

Old Ivanalen Award

American Institute of Architects North Georgia Branch, 1964

Outstanding service award

Ducal Bujes, 1960

Outstanding youth award of the year

Fang Zuming, Georgia 1959

Urban activities

Honorary member of the International Association of Business People.

East and South Africa Summit, Action Committee, 1998.

Atlanta International Museum of Art and Design, Leading Committee, 1997- 1998.

Honorary Committee of Atlanta International Museum of Art and Design

Advisory Committee of Atlanta College of Art

Advisory Committee of Atlanta Commercial Office

Head of Atlanta Commercial Office, 1973- 1975, 1988- 199 1.

Member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, 1985

Member of Atlanta Action Forum, 197 1- till now.

Chairman of Business Club, 1997

Advisory Committee of the Dean of Emory University Business School, 1992- 1994.

Georgia Institute of Technology, Director of Architectural Exploration Committee, 1992.

Trustee of Georgia Institute of Technology Foundation Committee, 1983.

Honorary director of Georgia Institute of Technology Foundation, 1993.

Former President, Atlanta Development Association Center

Honorary retired member of the board of directors of Atlanta Art League.

Atlanta International School, Advisory Committee, 1988- 1996.

Member of the trade delegation sent by Atlanta Commercial Office to the Soviet Union, 1989.

American Scandinavian Foundation of Georgia, Governor's Committee, 1983.

Founding member and advisory committee of Atlanta World Trade Club, 1982.

Governor Busby, member of China trade delegation, 1980.

Head of Scandinavian Economic Delegation of Atlanta Commercial Office, 1980

Chairman of Georgia Institute of Technology School of Architecture Alumni Association 1984

Curator, Atlanta Museum of Advanced Art, 1982

Georgia Institute of Technology, National Advisory Committee, 1975- 1978.

Honorary member of Atlanta Arts Council.

Patron of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Honorary director of the National Center for Jewish Immunology and Respiratory Medicine.

Professional activities

Italian Academy of Sciences, Rome, member, 1996.

Chairman, Design Award Jury, American Institute of Architects, North Carolina 1988

Member of Urban Design Society

Member of American Institute of Architects

Member of the National Building Registration Committee.

Honorary co-chairman of China Expo 96, 1996.

Honorary Consul of Denmark, 1967- 1996

Citizen and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Southern National Bank/National Bank, 1973- 1993.

Member of Georgia Institute of Architecture and Engineering.

Associate member of American handicraft museum

Professional member of American Association of Interior Designers

Honorary member of the Institute of International Business.

publish

Architects as Developers-with Jonathan barnett * * *, new york: McGraw Hill, 1976.

John Portman-with PaoloRiani and PaulGoldberger***, Milan, Italy, 1990.

John Portman: Island in the Island-With Robert. Craig and aldo Castelhano * * *, Milan: Iarcaedizioni, Italy, 1997.

John Portman Architectural Design Office Master Series 6-Selected and Recent Works. Australia: Photo Publishing House, 2002.

The death of a character

20 17 17 on February 29th, John Portman died in Atlanta, USA at the age of 93.

Personality assessment

John Portman is both an architect and an artist, and he is also a real estate developer. His importance can not be simply attributed to his design of some of the most innovative commercial projects in the world, but lies in that as an architect and developer, Portman may be the architect who can turn his design into reality in our time. (Comments by architectural critic Paul Goldberg)