Most architects change their style throughout their lifetimes, but not Richard Meier.

In this lesson, we are going to talk about Meier's style and major works, and see
what defines the abstract architectural movement.
Richard Meier
Abstract art is something that not everyone appreciates. It is devoid of subject,
focusing on form and color rather than representations of the real world. We've
seen a lot of abstract paintings and you may even run across an abstract sculpture,
but what would abstract architecture look like? That's the basic question driving
American architect Richard Meier. Born in 1934, Meier became one of the leading
architects of the late 20th century. He is also noted for maintaining a consistent
aesthetic throughout his career, refined across decades of prolific work. His
buildings are unique, bold, and innovative.
So, what exactly does an abstract building look like? Meier's buildings are focused
on the interplay of three dynamics: light, color, and place. These elements are
broken into their simplest form, abstracting them to explore their potentials. Let's
start with the most visually obvious: color. Meier's buildings are almost exclusively
flat white, both inside and out. This absence of color allows the viewer to focus on
the structure simply in terms of its geometric components, with each building being
a compilation of basic geometric shapes. The flat white walls and shapes of the
structure also create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that can be fully
appreciated without distraction.
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art
Let's see what this looks like in terms of actual buildings. One of Meier's most-
lauded works is the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, built between 1987
to 1995 in Spain. This massive museum is covered in white enameled steel and is
composed of juxtaposing rectilinear and curved geometric shapes, casting dramatic
shadows along the exterior. The flat white walls allow natural light to softly radiate
throughout the interior. However, this is also a very functional structure, designed
to provide visitors with flowing access to the art within.
Of course, we can't talk about a Meier structure without noting its location. The
museum stands in historic Barcelona, surrounded by Gothic structures. This is
where that plain, flat white facade has distinct benefits. It is bold, but
complimentary, creating a soft visual transition between history and modernity
without directly challenging the old and revered buildings in a visual competition.
The design helps to represent the new Barcelona as a growing and changing city,
connected to its past but very much a part of the modern world.
The Smith House
While Meier has completed many large structures throughout his career, he is also
recognized for his private residences. One of his most famous works is the Smith
House, a Connecticut residence completed in 1967. Composed of basic geometric
forms, the house is seemingly simple in its design but again is fundamentally
defined by its location. The back of the house faces the water, and the building can
be seen as creating a visual buildup to that view. The house is covered in large glass
windows that open the house and create an outwards emphasis, while also
reflecting the basic relationships between the angles and slopes of rocks, trees, and
shoreline.
The Hoffman House
Something that has defined Meier's career is his consistency. Nearly every one of
his structures shares a basic aesthetic, yet critics are always amazed at his ability to
create a completely new structure every time. A great example is the Hoffman
House, located in New York State and completed in 1967. Aesthetically, it seems
very similar to the Smith House. It's made of flat, white walls and interlocking
geometric shapes. Yet the effect is completely different. While the Smith House was
open and outward facing, the Hoffman house is enclosed and contained. While the
Smith House reflected the dynamism of the rocky shoreline, the Hoffman House
turns from the flat landscape and nearby public road to create a sheltered and safe
residence that stamps a dynamic structure onto the scene. Sharp angles create
dramatic shadows, and the lack of curves give it more of a fortress-like feel. It's the
same as every other Richard Meier structure; except in the fact that it's completely
different.
Richard Meier is an American architect noted for his abstract, geometric
structures composed of flat, white walls. This aesthetic allows Meier to play with
shapes and shadows, as well as integrate his structures into their physical
environment. One of his most famous large-scale works is the
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art
, in which sharp angles contrast with smooth curves and transition between the
historic district and modern structures. Meier is also noted for his private
residences, such as the
The Smith House & The Hoffman House
, both of which interact with its environment in different ways. Meier's works are
abstract, bold, and innovative, and despite the fact that they're all made of flat,
white walls, they are never the same.