InternationalFrancis Bulbulian: Mastermind of design wonders
His work shines in some of the world’s most exquisite buildings
Published: Friday December 19, 2008
Daegu Exhibition and Convention Center (EXCO)
Several thousand kilometers of land and ocean stand between his office in Minnesota and his project sites in the Asian Pacific. This, in a profession that grooms its best to understand project sites, be familiar with the climate, and experience local culture well in advance of putting pencil to paper.
None of these factors, however, has dissuaded this man from overcoming the chasm of earth that separates him from his project sites. Empowered by the forces of modern technology and the ability to communicate through an international language called architecture, Francis Bulbulian has helped shepherd architecture into the age of globalization.
Earlier this year the American Institute of Architects honored Bulbulian by making him a fellow of the institute. This is an honor that has been bestowed upon only 2 percent of the institute's nearly 85,000 members.
Bulbulian's portfolio - overflowing with high-quality postmodern architectural gems that embody the look of global architecture - provides plenty of justification for elevating him into the company of illustrious American architects such as Louis Kahn, Richard Neutra, Louis Skidmore, Richard Meier, Peter Eisenman, and Frank Gehry. However, after spending several hours discussing and studying his works and career, it's difficult to ignore yet another aspect of Bulbulian's greatness, that of a teacher, as evidenced by his contributions to the youth and the future of his profession.
Asked how he was able to reach this milestone, he said, "I've been very lucky to have always had good talent in our office." His answer is compelling evidence of his humility. Luck is one thing, but it's quite another to cultivate talent by mentoring, teaching, and providing guidance to younger students. Whether through teaching engagements at the University of Minnesota, lectures at schools throughout the U.S. and abroad, mentoring of young professionals, or countless educational publications, Bulbulian has invested as much time and energy in the future of the architectural profession as he has in his own practice. His advocacy and fostering of the younger generations are what have refined his own talents and those of colleagues and assistants - empowering him to take on and complete projects of grand scale and ambition.
At the time he was crossing the Pacific Ocean en route to the U.S. (from Lebanon), little did Bulbulian know that that same ocean would one day become his highway to some of the most high-profile projects in Asia and the Middle East. At the time of his arrival in the U.S., he was yet unaware of what profession he would pursue. It took only a few months for the 20-year-old to experience the excitement of architecture. Upon entering his uncle's house in Rochester, Minnesota, in the late 1950s, Bulbulian took notice of its unique character. When asked why the house looked nothing like the other houses in the neighborhood, his uncle promptly responded: "Because it was designed by an architect, one by the name of Frank Lloyd Wright."
Bulbulian's interest landed him at the University of Minnesota, where he would receive the Ellerbe Prize in Architecture and the Outstanding Thesis Award (1967). His works as an undergrad afforded him the opportunity to attend MIT, where he would earn his master of architecture degree and subsequently launch his career in the office of Leonard Parker.
Pioneering designs
Parker (a disciple of the iconic Eero Saarinen) mentored Bulbulian, whose talents would help the Parker Durrant firm to establish an expertise in practicing in international markets. Bulbulian's early involvement in academia, through his teachings at the University of Minnesota and his multiple lectures at various Asian Pacific universities, led to his participation in and eventual repeated successes in international design competitions. These competitions (which are often the source of high-profile and high-cost projects throughout the world today) are very sought after in the architecture industry. With the best of the best often participating against one another, it can be said that competitions continually raise the standard for design. To win one international design competition is remarkable. To have a portfolio filled with "First Place" and "Award of Commission" citations is rare.
From the completion of their first international project (the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile), Parker Durrant took an innovative approach to marketing. They concentrated significant efforts on photographing and publishing the project. Realizing that the Asian countries were both anxious and intrigued by the architecture of the Western world, they published heavily in several Asian architecture magazines. They followed with repeated visiting lectures and collaborations with Korean and Chinese academicians. With a mix of pedagogical involvement and aggressive marketing, the firm was pouring the foundation for international recognition at a time when significant work was forthcoming from Asia.
Their portfolio today confirms that their efforts have paid off. Among the many projects that have been awarded, designed, and built under Bulbulian's direction are the U.S. Embassy in Santiago; Korean Power and Electric Headquarters in Seoul; Daegu Convention and World Trade Center in Seoul; Busan Convention Center in Busan, Korea; mixed-use Jenwen Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Korea; Pangyo Technology Center in Pangyo, Korea; Dragon Hotel Complex in Hangzou, China; and, most recently, a 150-story mixed-use tower in Busan.
Transcending geographic boundaries is not foreign to architecture. Whether you draw from the spread of Byzantine architecture from ancient Rome to Yerevan or the movement of the International Style from the progressive schools of Germany to the landscapes of California, architecture has always considered the entire globe as its playing field.
International scope
It is not uncommon for 20th- and 21st-century architects to be awarded an international commission or two - often through a design competition. Francis Bulbulian, on the other hand, has immersed himself in the international scene, completing high-profile projects in China, Korea, Vietnam, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Canada, Chile, and the U.S. Bulbulian says the path to being awarded several of these commissions was not an easy one. It was preceded by many years of traveling to these countries, lecturing, publishing, and building a network.
