Frank Gehry, Architect of the Guggenheim Bilbao adn Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dies at 96
Frank Gehry, the globally celebrated architect whose innovative and often daring designs reshaped city skylines and redefined architectural possibility, has died at the age of 96. His passing marks the end of an era for a figure who consistently challenged convention and left an indelible mark on the worldS most iconic urban landscapes.
Gehry rose to international prominence with the 1997 opening of the guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, a titanium-clad masterpiece that revitalized the city and sparked a phenomenon known as the “bilbao effect”-the idea that striking architecture can drive economic development. The building’s design was jokingly inspired by a crumpled piece of paper, a notion that later “haunted” Gehry, who explained to the Observer in 2011 that people mistakenly believed his designs were based on such casual inspiration rather than complex computations.
his portfolio expanded to include landmark structures worldwide, including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park, the Gehry Tower in Germany, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, the luxury goods company that owns Louis Vuitton, hailed Gehry’s work for the foundation as ”his greatest masterpiece.”
Gehry’s designs were characterized by their unpredictable and unique forms. Prague’s Dancing House, completed in 1996, appears to be a glass building folding in on itself, while his 2006 hotel Marques in Spain features wavy, multicoloured metal sheets. He even likened his design for a business school in Sydney to a “brown paper bag.”
his 2003 Walt disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles initially drew criticism, with some reviewers describing it as a “pile of broken crockery” or a “fortune cookie gone berserk.” Gehry, though, remained unfazed. “At least they’re looking!” he quipped in a 2007 New Yorker interview.
Throughout his career, Gehry was lauded for his willingness to “push the envelope,” utilizing advanced technology to achieve enterprising designs. Paul Goldberger, author of Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry, noted Gehry’s desire to work “until the day he died” and his ability to “engage people emotionally.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his “deepest condolences” to Gehry’s family, acknowledging his “unmistakable vision” and enduring legacy. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao posted a video tribute, stating they woudl be “forever grateful,” and affirming that Gehry’s “spirit and legacy will always remain connected to Bilbao.”
