Jacques Herzog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacques Herzog
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| Born | 19 April 1950 |
| Nationality | Swiss |
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| Occupation | Architect |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Awards | |
| Practice | Herzog & de Meuron |
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Jacques Herzog (born April 19, 1950) is a famous Swiss architect. He started the architecture company Herzog & de Meuron with his partner, Pierre de Meuron. Together, they have designed some of the world's most amazing buildings.
You might know some of their work, like the Tate Modern art gallery in London, which used to be a power station. They also designed the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, Germany, and the Beijing National Stadium. The stadium is nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" and was built for the 2008 Olympics. For his incredible work, Herzog has won top awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
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Early Life and Education
Jacques Herzog was born and grew up in Basel, Switzerland. From a young age, he was interested in art and buildings. He even went to the same school as Pierre de Meuron, who would become his business partner.
To follow his passion, Herzog studied architecture at two top universities in Switzerland: the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). After graduating in 1975, he worked as a teaching assistant. In 1978, he and Pierre de Meuron started their own architecture firm, Herzog & de Meuron, in their hometown of Basel.
A Career of Amazing Buildings
Herzog & de Meuron became famous for creating buildings that are both beautiful and practical. They look at what a city and its people need. They believe in finding the hidden potential in a place or an existing building.
One of their early projects was a storage building for the company Ricola in Switzerland. This building showed their creative use of different materials. Another famous early work is the Dominus Winery in California. For its walls, they used wire cages filled with local stones, making it blend into the landscape.
Their big break came in 2000 when they turned the old Bankside Power Station in London into the Tate Modern art gallery. This project made them famous around the world. After that, they designed more incredible structures, like the Allianz Arena in Munich and the "Bird's Nest" stadium in Beijing.
The work of Herzog & de Meuron is very diverse. They design everything from art museums and sports stadiums to houses and city plans. They have won many awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2001, which is like the Nobel Prize for architects.
Working with Artists
Herzog has always been inspired by art and has worked closely with artists. This has had a big impact on how he designs buildings. In the 1970s, he even created and showed his own artwork in galleries.
He was influenced by the artist Joseph Beuys and the architect Aldo Rossi, who was one of his professors. Herzog believes that architecture should be based on big ideas, not just one style. This connection to art helped shape his unique approach to design.
Teaching the Next Generation
Besides designing buildings, Herzog has also been a teacher. He started as an assistant professor at ETH Zurich in 1977. Later, he taught at Cornell University and Harvard University in the United States.
From 1999 to 2018, he and Pierre de Meuron were professors at ETH Zurich. There, they started a research group called ETH Studio Basel. This group studied how cities grow and change, combining ideas from architecture, city planning, and social studies.
Design Philosophy
Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron have worked as a team since they were schoolboys. They love to experiment and try new things. They believe that looking at a project's surroundings—its environment, culture, and history—is very important. They also think deeply about how people will use and enjoy the spaces they create.
Herzog believes architecture is political because it affects everyone's lives. He thinks architects must find creative solutions for big global issues like energy and how we live in cities. He shares his ideas through writing, interviews, and lectures all over the world. For Herzog, drawing and sketching are key to finding the main idea behind a project.
Famous Projects
- Tate Modern (London, UK): An old power station on the River Thames was transformed into one of the world's most popular modern art galleries. It kept its industrial feel while creating huge, open spaces for art.
- Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China): Nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" for its amazing steel design, this stadium was the star of the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is now a famous landmark in Beijing.
- Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg, Germany): This stunning concert hall sits on top of an old warehouse. Its wave-like glass roof makes it a symbol of the city. It is known for its incredible sound quality.
- Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany): This soccer stadium is famous for its outer shell, which can light up in different colors. It is home to the FC Bayern Munich soccer team.
- Dominus Winery (Napa Valley, USA): This winery blends into its natural surroundings. Its walls are made of wire cages filled with local rocks, which helps keep the building cool.
- Prada Aoyama Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan): A unique store for the fashion brand Prada. Its glass building looks like a crystal, with a diamond-patterned surface that plays with light.
- M+ museum (Hong Kong): A huge museum of modern art and design in Hong Kong. Its building is shaped like an upside-down "T" and has become a major cultural landmark.
Designing Everyday Objects
Besides huge buildings, Herzog & de Meuron also design smaller things. They have created over 600 objects, including furniture, lights, and even jewelry.
One well-known design is the "Unterlinden" lamp, made with the Italian company Artemide. It has a simple, industrial look but uses modern LED technology. They also design custom items for their buildings, like door handles and chairs, to make sure every detail fits their vision.
Awards and Honors
Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron have won many of the world's top architecture awards.
- Pritzker Architecture Prize (2001): Often called the "Nobel Prize of architecture."
- Royal Gold Medal (2007): A top award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
- Praemium Imperiale (2007): A global arts prize from Japan for lifetime achievement.
- Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (2014): Awarded for the best buildings in North and South America.
They have also received honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Basel (2000) and the Royal College of Art (2016).
See also
In Spanish: Jacques Herzog para niños
