I arrived in the U.S.A. in 1935, to San Francisco. I got the boat from China, and I didn't even speak English. I could read a little, perhaps write a little, but that was all. It was a 17-day journey, and I learnt to speak English from the stewards. I. M. Pei arriveboatchina share on social
It is good to learn from the ancients. I'm a bit of an ancient myself. They had a lot of time to think about architecture and landscape. I. M. Pei ancientarchitecturebite Change image and share on social
I've never left China. My family's been there for 600 years. But my architecture is not consciously Chinese in any sense. I'm a western architect. I. M. Pei architectarchitecturechina Change image and share on social
The essence of architecture is form and space, and light is the essential element to the key to architectural design, probably more important than anything. Technology and materials are secondary. I. M. Pei architecturalarchitecturedesign Change image and share on social
One thing I learn - I've been in practice now for half a century or more, and the most important ingredient for an architect to do a good building is to have a good client. I think a client counts for as much as fifty per cent. I. M. Pei architectbuildcent share on social
In northern architecture - the cathedrals of Europe and all the little churches - the details, the carving of stone, become necessary because the light is not there to help you very much. You have to enrich surfaces. The desert reduces form to its simplest nature. There is no need for gargoyles or flying buttresses in the desert. I. M. Pei architecturebuttresscarve share on social
The Pyramids are perfect, but you can't put the Pyramids in the middle of Manhattan. In the desert, the combination of light and form makes it perfect. I. M. Pei combinationdesertform Change image and share on social
A lasting architecture has to have roots. I. M. Pei architecturelastroot Change image and share on social
Even a beautiful piece of work can be overshadowed, destroyed, by something else. I. M. Pei beautifuldestroyovershadow Change image and share on social
I liked the America of Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton - it was all a dream, of course, but a very alluring dream for a young man from Canton. I. M. Pei allureamericabing Change image and share on social