World-renowned and celebrated architect, I M Pei (Ieoh Ming Pei) turns 100 years old today (Apr. 26).

A Harvard-educated Chinese-American who grew up in Hong Kong and Shanghai, he is best known for his work on the Louvre Museum in Paris from 1983 to 1993, which saw the erection of the iconic glass pyramid in the museum's courtyard.

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Despite its status as a well-loved architectural and cultural marvel in the present day, the Louvre's glass pyramid was severely panned by critics in the past, and Pei, himself, received a lot of hate back then.

Fortunately, however, Pei ignored his critics, soldiered on, overcame all obstacles and completed the project.

We are so glad he did, just look at this:

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At 100, Pei has left a legacy of buildings and museums all over the world, such as New York's Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong's Sunning Plaza, and Athens' Basil & Elise Goulandris Museum of Modern Art.

Pei has also left his mark on Singapore. Here are his works that you might not be aware of:

The Gateway (completed in 1991)

Located near the junction of Beach Road and Rochor Road, The Gateway's twin office buildings are known for their sharp piercing edges.

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Raffles City (completed in 1986)

Located at City Hall MRT Station, Raffles City is a popular place for its shopping and hotels.

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Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) Centre (completed in 1976)

This iconic building at the heart of the Central Business District is the headquarters of OCBC Bank. When it was completed in 1976, the building was the tallest in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Pei had designed the building to look like a calculator and a symbol of strength.

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In addition to these buildings, Pei also left his mark on the Marina Bay area. The Singapore government commissioned him and Japanese architect Kenzo Tange to propose plans for the Marina Bay area in 1984.

Pei's plan would be adopted by the government later on, and all subsequent developments in the area were influenced by Pei's concepts.

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We are glad that the man who built the Louvre's glass pyramid left his mark on our little island.

Happy birthday I M Pei!

Top image from Wikipedia and Facebook.

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