Frank Gehry, the architect who pushed the limits, passes away at the age of 96

Frank Gehry, renowned for his daring and unconventional architectural creations including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles passed away on December 5 at his Santa Monica home at the age of 96. His death followed a brief respiratory illness, according to Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at his architectural firm.

Celebrated as one of the most imaginative architects of his generation, Gehry was often compared to Frank Lloyd Wright in terms of influence. His groundbreaking works challenged modernist conventions, merging sculpture with architecture and inspiring innovative design and construction techniques worldwide.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall became iconic symbols of Gehrys style, featuring bold, flowing forms covered in reflective metal. Architect Philip Johnson famously called Bilbao the greatest building of our time, noting the emotional impact of its soaring, dynamic spaces.

Gehrys designs often provoked both admiration and controversy. Early in his career, his use of unconventional angles, industrial materials, and fragmented forms sparked debate. Popular culture acknowledged his unique approach, with The Simpsons caricaturing him as the architect inspired by crumpled paper. Despite the attention, Gehry emphasized his practical professionalism, managing deadlines, budgets, and engineering challenges with creativity.

Over time, Gehry became the archetypal starchitect, earning the Pritzker Prize in 1989, collaborating with major clients, and designing products beyond buildings, including furniture and jewelry. His architectural evolution moved from raw, experimental forms to sophisticated, digitally-assisted structures that twisted, folded, and flowed with inventive elegance.

Notable projects include the Dancing House in Prague, created with Vlado Miluni, which mirrored the citys rebirth after communism. While some critics saw his work as expressions of ego, others praised his ability to expand the possibilities of architecture and inspire creative thinking in others.

Gehry drew inspiration from the art movements of the 1960s and from West and East Coast avant-garde artists. His own home in Santa Monica became a laboratory for experimentation, famously wrapped in corrugated metal, plywood, and chain-link fencing, a project he called cheapskate architecture. Despite local pushback, the house earned the American Institute of Architects Twenty-Five Year Award in 2012.

Born Frank Owen Goldberg in Toronto on February 28, 1929, Gehry experienced poverty in his early life. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1947, he worked while studying art and architecture, eventually earning a degree from the University of Southern California in 1954. A formative European trip in 1960 influenced his decision to start his own practice upon returning to California.

Gehrys major commissions include the Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Guggenheim Bilbao, the Manhattan skyscraper 8 Spruce, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. He frequently employed digital tools, like CATIA software adapted from aerospace engineering, to translate complex, flowing designs into buildable structures, a method crucial for his most famous works.

Throughout his career, Gehry faced challenges and criticism, including issues with the Stata Center at MIT and the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, but his bold vision and innovative methods consistently reshaped architectural practice.

In recognition of his influence, Gehry received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2016. Even in his 80s, he continued to take on significant projects, such as the Facebook campus headquarters, remaining unapologetically committed to pushing the boundaries of design.

Gehry is survived by his wife Berta Isabel Aguilera, two sons Alejandro and Sam Gehry, a daughter from his first marriage, Brina Gehry, and a sister. His architectural legacy endures as a testament to imagination, daring, and the fusion of art and structure.

Author: Maya Henderson