Daniel Libeskind

Daniel Libeskind has long been an international figure in architectural practice and urban design. He is well-known for introducing a new critical discourse into architecture and for his multidisciplinary approach. His practice extends from building major cultural institutions including museums and concert halls, landscape and urban projects, to stage design, installations and exhibitions. He is Frank O. Gehry Chair at the University of Toronto, a Professor at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe, and the Cret Chair at the University of Pennsylvania. Among his many awards is the 2001 Hiroshima Art Prize, which marked the first time the award, given to an artist whose work promotes peace and understanding, was ever bestowed upon an architect. Recent openings of Libeskind’s work include the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the “Felix-Nussbaum-Haus” in Osnabrück, and the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. His current projects include the Spiral Extension to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Jewish Museum in San Francisco, and the Royal Ontario Museum Extension in Toronto. Chief among his recent accomplishments is Mr. Libeskind’s selection as the winner of the World Trade Center site design competition. In addition to new office buildings, his design incorporates a museum, two outdoor memorial areas, an elevated walkway for visitors to the site, and a new spire, called the “Gardens of the World,” which will rise to 540 meters (1776 feet). His aim was to honor the heroes and victims of the September 11 attacks while providing a new icon for the city skyline.