Yuichi matsuura architect biography

While the work of an architect often stands in for the life of the architect itself, there is much to be learned about the lived experience of history's most notable designers.

And while monographs that tally up and showcase the work of individual designers and firms are a dime a dozen, biographies and autobiographies, though much more rare among designers, offer a deeper and more nuanced look into the lives and minds of some of the most well-known design personalities.

As the school year gets underway, and students and professors alike embark on an era of new beginnings, it can be useful—and perhaps inspirational—to investigate how other architects and designers have lived their lives.

Below, Archinect has gathered a dozen interesting and notable biographies and autobiographies that highlight the lives of designers with the hope that you will find something in their lives that speaks to yours.