Most architects with the prominence and portfolio of Gyo Obata are expected to publish some type of vanity book honoring their work and career.
Gyo wanted to mix it up a bit.
Rather than producing a standard puff-piece homage to himself, he decided to include the perspectives of his clients (what a novel concept). Active listening has always been a signature element of Gyo’s work, so the approach is fitting – and refreshing.
Published by The Images Publishing Group, Gyo Obata: Architect | Clients | Reflections features 30 projects spanning five decades – and stretching from St. Louis to Saudi Arabia.
The new book also includes …
Recently, I was shopping at one of my favorite stores, Whole Foods (insert shameless hope that this plug gets me some free stuff), a place I consistently have an awesome customer experience.
I was standing at the meat and poultry counter with the same butcher (we’ll call him “Joe”) who helps me every Saturday. I didn’t have a specific plan; I just knew that I wanted to serve something new and interesting for dinner. Joe must have picked up on my furrowed brow, because in addition to his usual “How can I help you?” he asked if there was something in particular I’d like to know more about, was …
“While it is well enough to leave footprints on the sands of time, it is even more important to make sure they point in a commendable direction.”
- James Branch Cabell (1879-1958), Author
Kassabaum, Obata + Hellmuth campaign for their earlier selves at HOK’s 25th anniversary celebration in 1980.
Landscape Architect Bob Belden soaks up studio life in the 1960s.
Hong Kong employees burn the midnight oil to celebrate HOK’s silver anniversary in 2005.
For the past several months, HOK people – current and past – have spent considerable time reflecting on our firm’s 55-year …
Working at HOK, we’re routinely given the opportunity to get involved with charitable and community organizations. Here in the St. Louis office, we’ve been working pro bono with the City of St. Louis and the Animal House Fund to create a new city animal shelter, dubbed the Animal House. The hope is that a nicer facility, combined with a better location, will promote higher adoption rates. The new facility will offer increased capacity as well as a more modern, humane environment for the animals. The design documents are 95% complete and the only thing standing in the way of constructing this facility is funding.
To …
In the spring of 1942, HOK co-counder Gyo Obata left Berkeley, California, where he had been a promising young student in Cal’s School of Architecture, and boarded a train east. The next day, his family was taken by bus to an internment camp. Nineteen-year-old Gyo avoided a similar fate by coming to St. Louis to study architecture at Washington University. This week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Kavita Kumar wrote a fascinating story about Gyo and three other Japanese-Americans who found shelter at Washington University. There’s also a video interview with Gyo.
(photo and video by Huy Richard Mach, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Take a look at Gyo’s yearboook photo at …
The surprising selection of Barack Obama as recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize has catapulted the international awards program to the forefront of worldwide consciousness.
Capitalizing on the Nobel attention, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay posted a mini-poll on his website asking people to vote for prominent local citizens he “nominated” for Nobel prizes in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Economics, Medicine and Peace.
HOK Founding Partner Gyo Obata is one of five nominees in the Physics category for his design of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. Completed in 1963, the thin-shell and hyperboloid structure is located on the St. …
Last week, HOK participated in the National Organization for Minority Architects (NOMA) 37th annual international conference and exhibition. As a part of the firm’s diversity initiative, HOK is partnering with organizations like NOMA to break through barriers by expanding the academic and professional horizons to a more diverse pool of individuals pursuing the field of architecture.
Attendees experienced an exciting and energizing line-up of speakers, including keynote presenter Gyo Obata, who recounted his personal journey confronting discrimination as a Japanese-American during World War II.
HOK hosted a special interactive planning and design charette benefiting South Side Day Nursery (SSDN). The exercise included visioning for a new, modern and “green” facility to …
So I may be the dolt who missed it this weekend, but Mark quickly filled me in and trust me, I WON’T miss it when it comes out officially!
Ken Burns, the documentary filmmaker who brought the world so many great works (including my favorites, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mark Twain) now is bringing forth the beauty of America’s National Parks. The series is coming on PBS on September 27th (which happens to be my birthday! Yay for that!)
Featuring commentary about Chiura Obata (father of HOK founder, Gyo Obata) who …
The Gateway to the West now has a breathtaking view from the East.
The newly christened Mississippi River Overlook in East St. Louis, Illinois, reveals a fresh new perspective of Eero Saarinen’s masterful Gateway Arch.
Designed by HOK, the 43-foot-tall viewing structure is located at Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park. A contemporary of Saarinen, Martin shared the architect’s vision of creating parks on both sides of the river. Unfortunately, neither visionary lived to see his dream fulfilled.
I asked Gyo Obata (the “O” in HOK) to share his thoughts about the overlook’s design and its significance to the region. Gyo, who studied under Eero’s dad Eliel at Cranbrook Academy …
This is a story not about myself, but my friend Chris. Some may have met him. Few forget him, and unfortunately when he started. He was sitting next to me.
I have to admit that when he first joined HOK, I was a little hesitant talking to him. They’ve always had to convince people to sit next to me, so it was a little strange having someone excited to be there. It was almost as if he was meant to counteract my usual glum demeanor. But there he was, smile on face, no bags under eyes, and an over enthusiastic voice.
“Hi, I’m Chris,” were his first words. “What’s your name?”
My name wasn’t important in this conversation. The last guy …
Last Monday in our San Francisco’s office, the whole staff had the opportunity to enjoy a very special lunch and learn; a presentation by the ‘O’ of hOk- Gyo Obata on his projects from the 60’s (started of with Saint Louis Priory Chapel which was a career-defining project for Gyo) through his latest projects (Lambert International East Terminal). See the presentation on HOKnetwork slideshare.
Gyo’s visit to his hometown this time, if I were to guess might have been a great excuse to …
Completed in 1962, the Saint Louis Priory Chapel was a career-defining project for Gyo Obata and earned HOK its first national recognition.
The church’s circular facade consists of three tiers of whitewashed, thin-poured concrete parabolic arches. Inside, the arches form 20 mini chapels for prayer and meditation.
As I explored this iconic 46-year-old structure, I was struck by its distinctive elegance. I also was reminded of the power of architecture to enrich and inspire people, communities and the world at large.
