The architectural world mourns the passing of Frank Gehry, the revolutionary designer who redefined modern architecture with his avant-garde creations, at age 96. His death was confirmed on Friday by Meaghan Lloyd, his chief of staff.
Born in Toronto in 1929, Gehry relocated to Los Angeles during his teenage years where he pursued architectural studies at the University of Southern California. After establishing his own practice, he dramatically departed from conventional architectural norms by embracing asymmetry and employing unexpected materials in what would become known as deconstructivism.
Gehry’s international breakthrough arrived in 1997 with the completion of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a magnificent structure sheathed in titanium that transformed both the Spanish city’s landscape and contemporary architectural possibilities. This masterpiece established his reputation for creating culturally transformative buildings that became immediate icons.
Earlier in his career, Gehry had demonstrated his innovative approach through the radical transformation of his Santa Monica residence, utilizing industrial materials such as chain-link fencing, plywood, and corrugated steel to challenge domestic architectural conventions.
Following his Bilbao success, Gehry’s distinctive style garnered global commissions including Chicago’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, the twisting Gehry Tower in Hanover, Germany, and the magnificent Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris with its soaring glass sails.
Gehry is survived by his wife Berta Isabel Aguilera and their two sons, Alejandro and Samuel, along with two daughters from his first marriage, Leslie and Brina. His architectural legacy continues to inspire generations of designers who challenge conventional boundaries of form and function.