HISTORY OF ANOINE PREDOCK
Antoine Predock, an acclaimed American architect whose visionary
designs left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape,
passed away on March 2, 2024, at 87. Predock's innovative
approach to architecture combined modernist principles with a
deep respect for the natural environment and cultural context,
resulting in strikingly original buildings deeply rooted in their
surroundings. Born on June 24, 1936, in Lebanon, Missouri, USA,
Predock graduated from Columbia University in 1962 with a degree
in architecture.
He established his architectural firm, Antoine Predock
Architect PC, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he
embarked on a prolific career over six decades. Predock's portfolio
included various projects, from museums and cultural centres to
academic buildings and private residences. His notable works
include the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg,
Manitoba; the National Palace Museum Southern Branch in Chiayi,
Taiwan; the University of California, Davis's Shrem Museum of Art,
the Music Department complex at the University of California,
Santa Cruz (UCSC). Each project reflected Predock's deep
understanding of the site and its context, resulting in an integrated
architecture with the surrounding landscape. Throughout his
career, Predock received numerous awards and honours for his
contribution to architecture, including the American Institute of
Architects (AIA) Gold Medal in 2006, one of the highest honours in
the field. He was also a Fellow of the American Institute of
Architects, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and the Royal
Architectural Institute of Canada.
Early
Antoine Samuel Predock was born in Lebanon, Missouri, on June
24, 1936.[2] He considered himself an Albuquerque native, though
he did not move there until college. [3] Predock credits his mother,
who had majored in liberal arts in college, for his artistic
inclination, and his father, an engineer, for his technical interests. [4]
Predock first attended the University of
Missouri in Columbia School of Engineering,[5] then the University
of New Mexico, where he studied engineering, emulating his father.
Although he was a successful and academically inclined student,
Predock found little fulfillment in his studies in engineering. Upon
completing a technical drawing course taught by Don Schlegel, an
architecture professor at UNM, Predock began to reevaluate his
career choices. After a short hiatus from academic life, he returned
to UNM at age 21 to study architecture. Schlegel acted as an
advisor to Predock throughout the latter's time in the UNM
architecture program. Eventually, Schlegel told Predock that he had
taken advantage of all that UNM had to offer and encouraged him to
apply elsewhere. Predock did, and was accepted to Columbia
University, where he obtained his B.A. in architecture.
Legacy
Predock's legacy extends beyond his built works, influencing
generations of architects and designers with his innovative vision
and commitment to excellence. His passing leaves a void in the
architectural community, but his legacy will continue to inspire and
shape the future of architecture for years to come. A unique blend
of modernist principles, regionalism, and contextual sensitivity
characterized Antoine Predock's architectural style. His designs
often evoked a sense of place, integrating the surrounding
landscape and cultural context into his buildings. Some vital
aspects of Predock's architectural style are discussed below:
Contextualism: Predock's designs were deeply influenced by the site
and surroundings. He paid close attention to each project location's
topography, climate, history, and cultural context. His buildings
often responded to the site's natural features, such as mountains,
rivers, or desert landscapes, creating a solid connection between
architecture and the environment. Sculptural Forms: Predock was
known for creating buildings with bold, sculptural forms that stood
out in their surroundings. His designs often featured dynamic
geometries, asymmetrical compositions, and dramatic cantilevers,
giving his buildings a sense of movement and energy. Materiality:
Predock utilized various materials in his designs, often drawing
from local or regional building traditions. He combined modern
materials like glass, steel, and concrete with traditional materials
like wood, stone, and adobe, creating rich textures and contrasts
within his buildings.
Career
Predock established his first office in Albuquerque, New Mexico in
1967. Other offices were established in California and Taipei.
Predock and his firm planned, developed, and collaborated on over
100 buildings and projects. They were featured in over 60
exhibitions, 250 books, and over 1,000 publications. He also held
various teaching positions at at least 14 universities, in the United
States and elsewhere.
Awards and Honour
International Fellow, Royal Institute of British Architects (2015)
Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (2014)
Senior Fellow, Design Futures Council (2010)[11]
Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Lifetime Achievement
Award (2007)[12]
AIA Gold Medal (2006)
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, University of
Minnesota (2001)
New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts (1989)[13]
Fellow, American Academy in Rome (1985)
William Kinne Fellows Traveling Prize, Columbia University
(1962-63)
Notable projects
1970 – La Luz Community, New Mexico
1971 – University of New Mexico Law School building
1979 – Albuquerque Museum, New Mexico
1982 – Rio Grande Nature Center, New Mexico
1989 – Nelson Fine Arts Center, Arizona State University, Arizona
1990 – Las Vegas Central Library + Children’s Museum, Nevada
1991 – Mandell Weiss Forum, University of California, San Diego
1991 – Venice Beach House, California
1992 – Classroom + Laboratory Building, California State
Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), demolished in
2022
1992 – Hotel Santa Fe at Euro Disney, France
1993 – American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
1993 – Turtle Creek House, Texas
1994 – Mesa Public Library, Los Alamos, New Mexico
1994 – Social Sciences + Humanities Building, University of
California, Davis
1994 – Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, California
1995 – Museum of Science & Industry, Tampa, Florida
1995 – Ventana Vista School, Arizona
1996 – Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University,
California
1996 – Center for Musical Arts, University of California, Santa Cruz
1997 – Arizona Science Center, Arizona
1997 – Center for Nanoscale Science + Technology, Rice University,
Texas
1997 – Dance Studio, University of California, San Diego
1997 – Spencer Theater, New Mexico
2000 – McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota
2000 – Tang Teaching Museum – Skidmore College, New York
2003 – Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library, Colorado
2003 – Tacoma Art Museum, Washington
2004 – Austin City Hall, Texas
2004 – Flint RiverQuarium, Georgia
2004 – Performing Arts + Learning Center, Pima Community
College, Arizona
2004 – San Diego Padres Petco Park, California
2004 – National Palace Museum Southern Branch, Taiwan
(withdrawn in 2008)
2006 – Discovery Canyon Campus, Colorado
2006 – Highlands Pond House, Colorado
2006 – Recreation Facility, Ohio State University, Ohio
2007 – George Pearl Hall, School of Architecture, University of New
Mexico
2007 – Indian Community School, Franklin, Wisconsin
2007 – Doudna Fine Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University
2008 – Trinity River Audubon Center, Dallas, Texas
2008 – Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, Colorado
College
2014 – Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, Manitoba
In Progress – Inn at The French Laundry, California
REFERENCES
Gomez, Adrian (March 3, 2024). "World-renowned architect Antoine
Predock dies at 87". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved March
4, 2024.
Bernstein, Fred A. (March 5, 2024). "Antoine Predock, Architect
Who Channeled the Southwest, Dies at 87". The New York
Times. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
Writer, Jessica Dyer | Journal Staff. "One-on-One with Antoine
Predock". abqjournal.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
Writer, Jessica Dyer | Journal Staff. "One-on-One with Antoine
Predock". abqjournal.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018
