In brief
Frank Gehry, the legendary architect known for his unconventional and audacious designs, has died at the age of 96. His works, which include the famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, showcased a unique deconstructivist approach that reshaped architectural norms. Gehry's legacy lives on through his impactful structures scattered across the globe, exemplifying his commitment to creativity and technological advancement.
Frank Gehry, one of the most influential architects of the last century, has died aged 96.
Gehry was acclaimed for his avant-garde, experimental style of architecture. His titanium-covered design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, catapulted him to fame in 1997.
His breakthrough in the architectural world came years earlier when he redesigned his own home in Santa Monica, California, using materials like chain-link fencing, plywood, and corrugated steel.
His death was confirmed by his chief of staff Meaghan Lloyd. He is survived by two daughters from his first marriage, Leslie and Brina, as well as his wife, Berta Isabel Aguilera, and their two sons, Alejandro and Samuel.
Born in Toronto in 1929, Gehry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to study architecture at the University of Southern California, before completing further study at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1956 and 1957.
After starting his own firm, he broke from traditional architectural principles of symmetry, using unconventional geometric shapes and unfinished materials in a style now known as deconstructivism.
His work in Bilbao put him in high demand, and he went on to design iconic structures in cities worldwide: the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park, the Gehry Tower in Germany, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.
Gehry also designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, layered in metal resembling sails billowing in the wind. After it opened in 2003, critics described it in various humorous yet harsh ways.
Paul Goldberger, an esteemed author, noted Gehry's ability to engage emotionally with people and emphasized his desire to use advanced technology for adventurous architectural endeavors.
