Frank Gehry, the visionary architect behind Bilbao's Guggenheim and LA's Disney Concert Hall, died December 5 at his Santa Monica home from a brief respiratory illness. Aged 96, his deconstructivist masterpieces redefined global skylines, blending chaos and genius in titanium curves.
Architectural Revolution
Born in Toronto as Frank Owen Goldberg, Gehry moved to LA as a teen, studying at USC and Harvard before founding his firm in 1962. His 1978 Santa Monica house—corrugated metal, chain-link fences—ignited rebellion against modernism, birthing deconstructivism. Bilbao's 1997 Guggenheim catapulted him to stardom, proving "starchitecture" could revive cities.
Pritzker Prize winner (1989), Gehry pioneered CATIA software for fluid forms, designing Disney Hall's acoustic marvel, Facebook's HQ, and more amid criticisms of overreach.
Key Highlights
Signature Bilbao Effect: Guggenheim titanium waves transformed rustbelt Bilbao into tourist magnet.
LA Legacy: Disney Concert Hall's curves house LA Philharmonic; superior acoustics via Douglas fir interiors.
Global Icons: Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Chicago), Louis Vuitton Foundation (Paris), 8 Spruce Street (NYC).
Personal Touch: Designed Lady Gaga hat, vodka bottles; survived by wife Berta, five children.
Sources: New York Times, CNN, BBC, ArchDaily.