"A pioneering architect, entrepreneur, artist and philanthropist, Mr Portman changed the skylines of cities around the world and impacted the lives of many in Atlanta and abroad," John Portman & Associates said on its website. Portman made history in 1967 with the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, whose 22-storey sky-lit atrium marked a break from the "confining environment" of traditional city hotels, the firm's biographical website on the architect said. In Asia, Portman designed Marina Square, a complex of convention hotels and retail space in Singapore. The biographical site says Portman "drew on a philosophy of self-reliance which was strongly influenced by the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Portman's firm said that despite the loss of their founder, "we are honored to continue in his legacy and memory.

Source: The Nation Bangkok December 30, 2017 23:48 UTC