Frank Gehry: top five architectural masterpieces

Renowned architect Frank Gehry has shaped some of the most striking and memorable buildings of contemporary architecture. Here are five of his standout works:

Gehry House, Santa Monica, 1978

One of Gehry's earliest projects, his own residence in Santa Monica, showcased the core of his architectural vision: breaking conventions with layered facades, sharp angles, and unconventional forms. The house incorporated raw materials such as plywood, corrugated metal, and glass.

Built around a 1920s Dutch Colonial bungalow on a corner lot, Gehry House served as his family home for forty years and has since become a noted California attraction.

Dancing House, Prague, 1996

This striking building on a Prague waterfront features twin towers, one of which appears to lean into the other as if dancing. Nicknamed Fred and Ginger, it was a collaboration between Gehry and Czech architect Vlado Milunic.

Constructed on a site affected by a 1945 US bombing, the nine-story office building exemplifies Gehry's deconstructivist style, favoring fragmentation while creating a dynamic architectural harmony.

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, 1997

Described as the most influential building of modern times, Gehrys Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao gave rise to the term Bilbao effect, highlighting how bold architecture can spark cultural and economic revival. Utilizing aviation industry software, Gehry designed a monumental museum with stone and glass, clad in gold-hued titanium panels.

The buildings roughly 33,000 thin titanium sheets create an organic, shifting texture that changes with light and weather, enhancing its dynamic appearance.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, 2003

This concert hall, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, features gleaming stainless steel facades that took 16 years to complete. Originally funded with a $50 million donation from Walt Disneys widow, the project ultimately cost $274 million and was celebrated as the most gallant building youre ever likely to see.

Designed to capture LAs abundant sunlight, the hall covers 293,000 square feet with a main auditorium seating 2,265, offering both visual and acoustic brilliance.

Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, 2014

Located in the Bois de Boulogne near Paris, this expansive gallery combines glass and steel panels in overlapping layers, complemented by flowing water underneath. Praised for its technological innovation and artistic creativity, the building cost $135 million and houses the private collection of French billionaire Bernard Arnault.

Author: Connor Blake