Today, October 5, is the birthday of Maya Lin, born in 1959. Although a Yale graduate with two architecture degrees, Lin is widely known for her memorials and "earth pieces," such as the one shown here -- Storm King Wavefield.
Lin won early fame for her Vietnam Memorial, and her work has stirred heated debate ever since. According to some critics, Maya Lin is an artist, not a real architect. So, I'm scratching my head and wondering, what's a real architect?
Well, I know that Frank Gehry designs jewelry for Tiffany & Co. And Rem Koolhaas creates fashion runways for Prada. And isn't Santiago Calatrava really more of an engineer than an architect?
Our word architect comes from the Greek word architekton meaning "chief carpenter"—not a good description of the modern architect. I say let the creative be creative—especially on their birthdays.
More:
- What is an architect?
- What can I do with a major in architecture?
- What do the letters after your architect's name mean?
- Share Your Views: What qualities make an architect great?
- Readers Respond: The Real Life of an Architect
Photo of Maya Lin's Storm King Wavefield, Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, N.Y ©Jackie Craven
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