starchitect (also Stararchitect)
informal (blended) noun

- a well-known and well-paid architect noted for his or her landmark buildings (and who has achieved high celebrity status)

Collins Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

From the 1940s, “starchitect” (a blend of star and architect) originally meant a film star who designed his/her own house.

Nowadays, starchitect (also stararchitect) is a sometimes sarcastic term used to describe those whose celebrity and critical acclaim have transformed them into idols of the architecture world and have given them a degree of fame among the general public.

Building and construction developers around the world are very keen to hire starchitects in hopes of convincing cities to approve large development projects, to obtain financing or to increase the value of their buildings.

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LOOK AT ME!

A key characteristic starchitect's designs are their originality. Well known examples are the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain designed by starchitect Frank Gehry and SwissRe’s Tower in London designed by Norman Foster.

For examples of really weird structural creativity, Google search for “12 of the Strangest Buildings in the World”.

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SYNONYMS

Architectural superstar, Celebrity architect, Eco-architect, Legendary developer, Master builder, STARCHITECT, Stararchitect, Sustainable architect, Virtuoso constructor, Visionary builder

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Have you seen pictures of the amazing “Crooked House” in Sopot, Poland? ... it’s designed by STARCHITECTS Szotyńscy & Zaleski.”

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