Pierre De Meuron

Pierre de Meuron (born 8 May 1950) is a Swiss architect and co-founder, alongside Jacques Herzog, of the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron.

Among the firm's most recognized projects are the transformation of the Bankside Power Station into the Tate Modern in London, the design of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, and the creation of the Beijing National Stadium, commonly referred to as the "Bird's Nest," for the 2008 Olympics.

Together with Herzog, de Meuron has picked up the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the Royal Gold Medal, among various other distinctions.

Early life and education

De Meuron was born in Basel, Switzerland. Raised in Basel, he developed an early interest in the arts and architecture, influenced by the city's rich cultural heritage. He attended grade school alongside Jacques Herzog, who would later become his long-term collaborator and business partner.

De Meuron pursued his architectural studies at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) before continuing his education at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). After earning their degrees in 1975, both de Meuron and Herzog remained at ETH Zurich, working as assistants under Prof. Dolf Schnebli. In 1978, they co-founded the architectural practice Herzog & de Meuron.

Career

Herzog & de Meuron achieved international recognition for their ability to combine refinement with pragmatism and urban sensibility. Their projects address both the collective fabric of the city and the specific needs of their clients. A central aspect of their design philosophy is uncovering and revealing the latent potential of existing structures and environments.

Early projects that exemplified their distinctive approach include the Ricola Storage Building in Laufen, Switzerland (1987), which emphasized materiality and texture, and the Dominus Winery in Napa Valley, California (1998), where they incorporated locally sourced stone-filled gabions as a key architectural element.

Their international prominence grew with the transformation of the Bankside Power Station into the Tate Modern in London (2000), a project that became a landmark in contemporary architecture. Other significant commissions include the Allianz Arena in Munich (2005) and the Beijing National Stadium—commonly known as the "Bird's Nest"—designed for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Collaboration with artists

Two significant early influences on de Meuron and Herzog were artist Joseph Beuys and architect Aldo Rossi, the latter being their professor during their studies at ETH Zurich. Their friendships with artists have impacted their architectural philosophy, favouring a concept-based approach over a stylistic one. de Meuron, along with Jacques Herzog, initiated Joseph Beuys's involvement in the Basel Carnival (Fasnacht) through the creation of felt suit costumes and the reproduction of other elements of Beuys's iconic installation "Feuerstätte". The physical remnants of that 1978 carnival event have then been piled up, reassembled and transformed – based on a sketch by Beuys – into “Feuerstätte II”, a large installation piece which is since then part of the permanent collection of the Kunstmuseum Basel. This project exemplifies the kind of artistic engagement that influenced their architectural works.

Academia

Pierre de Meuron has played an active role in architectural education, contributing to academic discourse and research at institutions worldwide.

He graduated from ETH Zurich in 1975, and joined Harvard University as a visiting professor in 1989 and since 1994. From 1999 to 2018, de Meuron and Jacques Herzog served as full professors at ETH Zurich, where they significantly contributed to architectural research and pedagogy. During this period, they co-founded the ETH Studio Basel – Contemporary City Institute in collaboration with Swiss architect Roger Diener.

The ETH Studio Basel, operational from 1999 to 2018, was a research institute affiliated with ETH Zurich but based in Basel, Switzerland. The institute focused on analyzing contemporary urban transformations and urbanization trends in the 21st century. By integrating architecture, urban planning, and sociology, the research conducted at the institute examined urban development dynamics and proposed innovative urban strategies. Notable studies included research on urbanization in Switzerland and the concept of the "city region" in Europe.

Approach and focus

Since the company’s founding, Pierre de Meuron has worked collaboratively with co-founder Jacques Herzog. As stated by Herzog, ‘Pierre de Meuron and I have always loved trying things out, being experimental – ever since we were in grade school together. It’s the way we are. We’re curious by nature.’ Each has brought their specific strengths to the partnership as ‘a source of some difference to start with in terms of centres of interest, character, and so on.’ Jacques and Pierre have extended this mode of collaboration to a larger group of partners that have successively joined the practice over the years.

Pierre de Meuron is involved in the competitions as well as the architectural, urban and territorial projects of Herzog & de Meuron since the firm’s founding. de Meuron shapes the work of the company through his belief that architecture as a discipline goes beyond formal or technical aspects, but must consider history, social psychology, and geopolitics, and is rooted in the reality of a project. de Meuron guides the firm’s development and long-term planning, and was instrumental in creating the firm’s succession plan, outlining how the two founders are handing over ownership step by step to the partner group according to the agreed plan.

de Meuron also collaborated with Herzog – and occasionally with artists such as Rémy Zaugg or Ai Weiwei – on urbanistic and territorial projects. This started already in their early years with an in depth analysis of the metropolitan area of Basel, which ultimately led to the foundation of the “ETH Studio Basel” (1999) together with Roger Diener and Marcel Meili. The focus was the analysis of landscapes and urban territories across the world; The theoretical output was summarized in their publication “The Inevitable Specificity of Cities”.

Pierre de Meuron views urban development as an opportunity to engage decision-makers and all people concerned in meaningful reflections on the city's constant transformation, including the management of shared natural resources, such as land, water, sunlight, flora and fauna – stimulating and moderating the debate by lecturing at public events and at institutional levels. His strong focus on urban and territorial planning is evident and manifest in projects in Switzerland such as Ronquoz 21 in Sion, where a Plan Guide ensures that ‘the project is implemented progressively, through different phases and different areas of development. Ronquoz 21 will be a neighborhood that dialogues with its citizens and its territory.’ Bahnknoten Basel, which aims to greatly improve the connection of Basel to its larger metropolitan region'';'' and Cargo Sous Terrain'','' an underground freight transport system''.'' These projects reflect his conviction that the urban and the rural are politically, economically and socially highly interdependent.

De Meuron uses photography as a tool for his work, photographing projects after completion to observe and learn how people are using them; as an aid in structural and spatial analysis; and as a record of his ongoing research e.g. of the Basel metropolitan region, contributing to his understanding that a city must be developed not in terms of its buildings only but in terms of the unbuilt environment within and around it.

Notable projects

* Blue House (1980) – Located in a suburban area in Oberwil, Switzerland, The Blue House features a curved northern concrete block wall and a thin layer of ultramarine paint that creates an impression of fragility.
* Dominus Winery (1997) – Located in Napa Valley, California, this winery is distinguished by its seamless integration with the landscape, featuring gabion walls filled with local basalt rocks.
* Ricola Projects (1987, 1993) – The Ricola Storage Building in Laufen and the Ricola Europe Headquarters in Mulhouse-Brunstatt showcase Herzog & de Meuron’s innovative use of materials. The Storage Building features translucent polycarbonate panels for diffused lighting, while the Headquarters integrates a curved roof and timber cladding to complement the rural landscape.
* Prada Aoyama Tokyo (2003) – A flagship store in Tokyo’s Aoyama district, this building is recognized for its diamond-shaped glass façade with convex and concave panes.
* Tate Modern (2000) – The transformation of a disused power station in London into a modern art museum.
* Beijing National Stadium (2008) – Known as the "Bird’s Nest," this structure for the 2008 Summer Olympics features a steel lattice design.
* Elbphilharmonie (2016) – A concert hall in Hamburg featuring a glass structure atop a historic warehouse.
* REHAB Basel (2002) – A specialized rehabilitation center.
* Allianz Arena (2005) – A stadium in Munich known for its façade composed of ETFE plastic panels that change color.
* 1111 Lincoln Road (2010) – A mixed-use development in Miami Beach featuring a reimagined parking garage that functions as a space for retail, dining, and events.
* M+ Museum (2021) – A cultural institution in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, featuring an inverted T-shaped design that integrates gallery spaces with research facilities, and houses the Uli Sigg collection of Chinese art.
* Kinderspital Zürich (2024) – A children's hospital.

Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett

The Kabinett is a charitable foundation established in Basel in 2015 to preserve and manage the extensive archives of Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. It houses a comprehensive collection of architectural drawings, sketches, models, and personal collections, providing valuable insight into the architects’ creative process.

The foundation is structured around three key areas: architecture, art, and photography, encompassing a wide range of materials and collections. Among its notable holdings is the photography archive of Ruth and Peter Herzog, which includes an extensive collection of historical images. Although the Kabinett is not open to the general public, it offers access to researchers and specialists by appointment.

Object design

In addition to their architectural practice, Herzog & de Meuron have developed a diverse portfolio of object design, which includes furniture, lighting, jewelry, and cutlery. Since the firm's founding in 1978, they have designed over 400 objects, many of which were conceived as integral elements within their architectural projects, while others function as standalone design pieces.

A notable design in their collection is the "Unterlinden" lamp, developed in collaboration with the Italian lighting company Artemide. This compact lamp features an aluminum head with an industrial aesthetic, integrating advanced LED technology for energy-efficient illumination.

In addition to standalone pieces, the firm has designed custom furniture and objects for many of their architectural projects, including bespoke door handles, lighting fixtures, and seating, reinforcing the seamless integration of architectural and product design.

Awards and honors

* The Pritzker Architecture Prize (2001), often regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture, awarded for their innovative and influential work.
* The Royal Gold Medal (2007), presented by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in recognition of their significant impact on global architecture.
* The Praemium Imperiale (2007), awarded by the Japan Art Association, celebrating their lifetime achievements in the field of architecture.
* The Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (2014), recognizing their architectural excellence in North and South America.

Additionally, they have been awarded honorary doctorates from several institutions:

* University of Basel (2000), in recognition of their contributions to architecture and urbanism.
* Royal College of Art (2016), acknowledging their role in advancing design and architectural education.
* Technical University of Munich (2018), for their pioneering contributions to contemporary architecture.

References

External links

Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Meuron, Pierre
1950 births
Living people
21st-century Swiss architects
Harvard University staff
People from Basel-Stadt