Frank Gehry, the trailblazing architect known for reshaping the way the world sees buildings, has passed away at the age of 96. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of design, Gehry gained international fame with his striking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which opened in 1997 and became an instant symbol of modern architecture.
Long before that moment, Gehry had already established his reputation as a bold innovator when he transformed his own home in Santa Monica using materials like chain-link fencing, plywood, and corrugated steel. His death was confirmed by his chief of staff, Meaghan Lloyd.
Gehry leaves behind his wife, Berta Isabel Aguilera, their two sons Alejandro and Samuel, and two daughters from his first marriage, Leslie and Brina.
Born in Toronto in 1929, Gehry moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue architecture at the University of Southern California. He later attended Harvard Graduate School of Design, completing further studies in 1956 and 1957.
After launching his own firm, Gehry challenged the conventional ideas of symmetry and form, embracing asymmetrical shapes and unfinished materials, creating a style that would later be called deconstructivism.
"I was rebelling against everything," Gehry said in a 2012 interview with The New York Times, reflecting on his unconventional approach.
The success of the Guggenheim Museum led to a surge of global commissions, producing landmark structures including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago, the Gehry Tower in Germany, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.
"He bestowed upon Paris and upon France his greatest masterpiece," said Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton.
Gehry’s work was characterized by unpredictability. The Dancing House in Prague, finished in 1996, appears to bend and twist, while Spain’s Hotel Marques, completed in 2006, features thin, wavy sheets of multicolored metal.
His business school design in Sydney gives the impression of a crumpled paper bag, highlighting his playful yet daring vision.
In 1989, Gehry received the Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of the highest honors in the field. The jury praised his work as having a "highly refined, sophisticated and adventurous aesthetic," adding, "His designs, if compared to American music, could best be likened to Jazz, replete with improvisation and a lively unpredictable spirit."
Through decades of fearless creativity, Gehry changed the global architectural landscape. His daring forms and innovative spirit inspired architects worldwide, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape cities and challenge traditional ideas of design.
