Biography Daniel Libeskind
DANIEL LIBESKIND, B.ARCH. M.A. BDA AIA is 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 and commercial institutions - including museums and concert
halls - to convention centers, universities, housing, hotels, shopping centers and
residential work. He also designs opera sets and maintains an object design studio.
Born in postwar Poland in 1946, Mr. Libeskind became an American citizen in 1965. He
studied music in Israel (on the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship) and in
New York, becoming a virtuoso performer. He left music to study architecture,
receiving his professional architectural degree in 1970 from the Cooper Union for the
Advancement of Science and Art in New York City. He received a postgraduate degree
in History and Theory of Architecture at the School of Comparative Studies at Essex
University (England) in 1972.
He has received numerous awards and designed world-renowned projects including:
the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the Denver Art Museum, the Royal Ontario Museum in
Toronto, the Military History Museum in Dresden, and the masterplan for Ground Zero
among others.
Daniel Libeskind’s commitment to expanding the scope of architecture reflects his
profound interest and involvement in philosophy, art, literature and music.
Fundamental to Libeskind’s philosophy is the notion that buildings are crafted with the
perceptible human energy, and that they address the greater cultural context in which
they are built.
Several of Daniel Libeskind’s projects are currently under construction, among which
CityLife, project of re-qualification of the old fairgrounds district in Milan, which
includes a new urban park, as well as residential, office, retail and cultural areas, and
Zlota 44; a residential high-rise tower in Warsaw, Poland.
Upon winning the World Trade Center design competition in February 2003, Daniel
Libeskind was appointed as master plan architect for the site in New York City.
Memory Foundations is now under construction. Daniel teaches and lectures at
universities across the world. He resides in New York City with his wife and business
partner, Nina Libeskind.
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