starchitect

The supermodel of building architects who is well-known by the mainstream and whose work often appears in architecture magazines. He is often commissioned large public projects due to his fame, and typically applies his stylistic signature to all his buildings regardless of the characteristics of the surrounding site and/or neighborhood. He often has a line of home furnishings or household appliances that he licensed and created under his namesake, such as chairs, desk accessories, and even teapots. Examples of starchitects include: Michael Graves, Frank Gehry, Richard Meier, and I.M. Pei.