American Masters

I.M. Pei: Building China Modern

I.M. Pei: Building China Modern captures Pei as he forges an architectural language that brings together Western modernity and Eastern tradition into a current synthesis. After decades of living in the U.S. and unprecedented international acclaim, Pei returns as a foreigner to his birth country to give a new direction for Chinese architecture in which history can live in the midst of change.

I.M. Pei: Building Interview

30s

'I.M. Pei: Building China Modern' follows the architect on a personal and architectural journey from west to east, where he was invited to design a museum to house the antiquities of his native Suzhou.

Previews + Extras

  • I.M. Pei Discusses The Hong Kong Bank of China Building: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    I.M. Pei Discusses The Hong Kong Bank of China Building

    S24 E2 - 2m 49s

    Pei discusses the difficulties acheiving his creative vision for The Bank of China Building in Hong Kong, a place where traditional feng shui and cultural values came in conflict with elements of his modern design in a clip from I.M. Pei: Building China Modern. A production of PACEM Productions, distribution by by Bullfrog Films (www.bullfrogfilms.com).

  • I.M. Pei Creating The Suzhou Museum Garden: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    I.M. Pei Creating The Suzhou Museum Garden

    S24 E2 - 6m 15s

    In the creation of the garden for the Suzhou Museum, the area most central to any Chinese building, I.M. Pei uses a variety of techniques to create a rock design that is both minimal and modern as well as a reflection of traditional Chinese aesthetic in a clip from I.M. Pei: Building China Modern. A production of PACEM Productions, distribution by by Bullfrog Films (www.bullfrogfilms.com).

  • I.M. Pei Discusses The Louvre Pyramid: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    I.M. Pei Discusses The Louvre Pyramid

    S24 E2 - 2m 15s

    In this clip from I.M. Pei: Building China Modern, Pei describes the resistance he initially face when building The Louvre Pyramid and how he worked through the cultural attitudes that were resistant to putting a modern structure in a classical space. A production of PACEM Productions, distribution by by Bullfrog Films (www.bullfrogfilms.com).

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.