Philip Freelon, the architect behind major cultural projects across the US, including Washington DC’s National Museum of African American History and San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora, has passed away.
The African American architect died Monday 9 July 2019 in North Carolina, where he founded his architecture firm The Freelon Group back in 1990.
Freelon designed the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which opened in September 2016 in the US capitol, in collaboration with British firm Adjaye Associates, and US firms Davis Brody Bond and SmithGroup.
British-Ghanian architect David Adjaye said that he was “deeply saddened by the loss of Phil Freelon”.
“He leaves behind an indelible mark on the practice of architecture and his legacy transcends the brick and mortar of the buildings he designed,” Adjaye added.
Philip Freelon是美國各大文化項目的幕後建築師，包括華盛頓特區的國家非裔美國人歷史博物館和舊金山的非洲僑民博物館，已經去世。
這位非洲裔美國建築師於2019年7月9日週一在北卡羅來納州去世，並於1990年在那裡創立了他的建築公司The Freelon Group。
Freelon與英國公司Adjaye Associates以及美國公司Davis Brody Bond和SmithGroup合作，設計了2016年9月在美國首都開設的史密森尼國家非裔美國人歷史與文化博物館（NMAAHC）。
英國 – 加尼建築師David Adjaye表示他“對Phil Freelon的失敗深感悲痛”。
“他在建築實踐上留下了不可磨滅的印記，他的遺產超越了他設計的建築物的實體，”Adjaye補充道。
“Phil was a pioneer, an advocate of diversity and inclusion, and his impact will only strengthen over time as we continue to see people of colour rising in the field of architecture,” Adjaye continued. “More than anything, however, Phil was a dear friend and mentor.”
NMAAHC is a key example of Freelon’s dedication to creating buildings and spaces that honour social equality during his 42 years of practice. His projects include eight museums, seven laboratories and dozens of headquarters and schools.
Freelon designed major museums dedicated to black culture in the US
Among his other notable works is Atlanta’s National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which features multi-toned cladding to represents different skin colours. Built in 2014, the centre is located in the heart of the city’s tourist district, and serves as a hub for the past, present and future of the Human Rights Movement.
San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Houston’s Emancipation Park, and the Reginald F Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture also feature in Freelon’s portfolio. His firm also designed Detroit’s Motown Museum that is currently under construction.
Perkins + Will, which acquired The Freelon Group in 2014, similarly commended the architect’s achievements and the effects of his work in a statement released following his death.
“Phil broke down socioeconomic and cultural barriers in architecture and design,” said Perkins + Will. “He led the design of almost every major museum or public space dedicated to black culture in the United States.”
“He was, arguably, the most significant African American architect in recent history.”
“Trailblazer in the architecture community”
Perkins + Will, which also published a webpage commemorating Freelon, was joined by key figures from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in celebrating his career.
“Phil was a trailblazer in the architecture community and a pioneer of public spaces,” said AIA executive vice president Robert Ivy. “His positive influence on the profession and our society will be felt for years to come.”
“He has served as a great mentor and role model for many, and was a kind and loving friend to all who knew him,” added AIA’s president William Bates.
“菲爾是一位先驅，是多元化和包容性的倡導者，隨著時間的推移，他的影響只會隨著我們繼續看到建築領域人們的色彩上升而增強，”Adjaye繼續道。 “但最重要的是，菲爾是一位親密的朋友和導師。”
NMAAHC是Freelon在其42年的實踐中致力於創造建築和空間以紀念社會平等的一個關鍵例子。他的項目包括八個博物館，七個實驗室和數十個總部和學校。
Freelon在美國設計了致力於黑人文化的主要博物館
其他值得注意的作品包括亞特蘭大國家公民與人權中心，該中心採用多色包層，代表不同的膚色。該中心建於2014年，位於城市旅遊區的中心地帶，是人權運動過去，現在和未來的中心。
舊金山的非洲僑民博物館，傑克遜的密西西比民權博物館，休斯頓的解放公園以及馬里蘭非洲裔美國歷史文化中的Reginald F劉易斯博物館也在Freelon的作品集中出現。他的公司還設計了目前正在建設中的底特律的摩城博物館。
Perkins Will於2014年收購了The Freelon Group，同樣在他去世後發表的一份聲明中讚揚了建築師的成就及其作品的效果。
“菲爾打破了建築和設計中的社會經濟和文化障礙，”帕金斯威爾說。 “他領導了幾乎所有專門針對美國黑人文化的博物館或公共空間的設計。”
“可以說，他是近代史上最重要的非裔美國建築師。”
“建築界的開拓者”
Perkins Will也出版了一個紀念Freelon的網頁，美國建築師協會（AIA）的主要人物也在慶祝他的職業生涯。
“菲爾是建築界的開拓者和公共空間的先驅，”友邦保險執行副總裁羅伯特·艾維說。 “他將在未來幾年內感受到他對這個職業和社會的積極影響。”
“他已經成為許多人的偉大導師和榜樣，並且是所有認識他的人的善良和愛心的朋友，”AIA總裁William Bates補充道。
Freelon was an avid supporter of fellow African American colleagues in his profession. In 2016, he presented to the AIA Board of Directors on behalf of late Paul Revere Williams. The result bestowed Williams with the AIA Gold Medal award, marking the first African American to receive it.
“This is a moment in our institute’s history that is so important to recognise and acknowledge the work of a champion,” Freelon said, while serving as managing and design director at Perkins + Will in North Carolina.
Freelon studied at MIT and Harvard GSD
Freelon earned a bachelor in environmental design and architecture at North Carolina State University, and a masters in architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1989, he was the recipient of the Loeb Fellowship and spent a year of independent study at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD).
He went on to be a lecturer at several universities, including North Carolina State University, Harvard, MIT, the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Utah, the California College of the Arts, Syracuse University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
In 2012, President Barack Obama appointed Freelon to the US Commission of Fine Arts. In 2017, he was named architect of the year by Fast Company, honouring him as “America’s Humanitarian Architect”.
Freelon was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2016. He is succeeded by his wife, and jazz singer Nnenna Freelon, and their three children.
Freelon是非洲裔美國同事的熱心支持者。 2016年，他代表已故的Paul Revere Williams向AIA董事會提交了申請。結果使威廉姆斯獲得了AIA金獎，這是第一位獲得該獎項的非裔美國人。
“這是我們研究所歷史上的一個時刻，對於認可和承認冠軍的工作非常重要，”Freelon說道，同時擔任北卡羅來納州Perkins + Will的管理和設計總監。
Freelon在麻省理工學院和哈佛大學GSD學習
Freelon在北卡羅來納州立大學獲得環境設計和建築學士學位，在麻省理工學院（MIT）獲得建築學碩士學位。 1989年，他獲得了勒布獎學金，並在哈佛大學設計研究生院（GSD）度過了一年的獨立學習。
他後來成為多所大學的講師，包括北卡羅來納州立大學，哈佛大學，麻省理工學院，馬里蘭大學，大學公園，猶他大學，加州藝術學院，錫拉丘茲大學和新澤西大學。技術。
2012年，美國總統巴拉克奧巴馬任命Freelon為美國美術委員會成員。 2017年，他被Fast Company評為年度建築師，將他譽為“美國人道主義建築師”。
Freelon在2016年被診斷出患有肌萎縮側索硬化症。他的妻子和爵士歌手Nnenna Freelon以及他們的三個孩子接替了他。
FROM:https://www.dezeen.com/2019/07/10/philip-freelon-dies-aged-66/
