Artist Lens | Building with I. M. Pei: Sandi Pei on his Father’s Legacy

The Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong was I. M. Pei’s first major high-rise project. Working alongside him as a junior architect, his son Sandi contributed to a design that embodied the ideals of clean geometry, structural clarity, and a thoughtful integration with its surroundings. The Bank of China Tower may be Sandi’s most significant project, but his earlier experiences with his father laid the foundation for his architectural philosophy. Growing up in the Katonah House, a modernist home designed by I. M. Pei, Sandi absorbed the elder Pei’s fascination with natural light and open spatial flow. Later, with projects like the Wiesner Building at MIT, Sandi explored collaborations between art and architecture, blending his father’s influence with his own vision. From the intimate scale of family homes to the monumental Bank of China Tower, the Peis’ work reveals architecture as both personal legacy and cultural statement. Their buildings continue to inspire, blending experimentation and precision to shape spaces—and skylines. English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese closed captions are available in the player. M+ is Hong Kong’s global museum of visual culture. Subscribe to our channel: https://mplus.org/subscribe Sign up to the M+ Newsletter: https://mplus.org/en-newsletter M+ Magazine for more visual culture: https://mplus.org.hk/magazine Instagram:   / mplusmuseum   M+ Shop: https://shop.mplus.org.hk Website: https://mplus.org.hk