Architect Frank Gehry dies at 96

Frank Gehry (born Ephraim Owen Goldberg) was born in Toronto in 1929. He emigrated to Los Angeles in 1947 to study architecture at the University of Southern California and urban planning at Harvard.

He began his career with modest projects, but soon distinguished himself by remodelling his own house in Santa Monica using industrial materials. This marked the beginning of the disruptive style that would accompany him throughout his life.

The opening of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in 1997, a titanium structure with seemingly impossible curves, became an architectural icon that transformed the city, generating what became known as the 'Bilbao effect': proof that avant-garde architecture could revitalise a city's economy and cultural identity.

Among his most celebrated projects are:

- Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003), renowned for its acoustics and futuristic design.
- Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris (2014), with its glass “sails” that seem to float.
- Dancing House in Prague (1996), created with Vlado Milunić.
- Hotel Marqués de Riscal in La Rioja, Spain (2006), merging winemaking tradition with contemporary architecture.
- The upcoming Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for 2026, will be his posthumous work.

Gehry received the highest honours in architecture, including the Pritzker Prize in 1989, the U.S. National Medal of Arts, the French Legion of Honour and the Prince of Asturias Award in 2014. His irreverent style transcended architecture, reaching even popular culture with an appearance in The Simpsons in 2005.

Although he was criticised by some for being excessive or catering too much to tourists, Gehry always defended architecture as an integral art form. His ability to combine technology, industrial materials, and sculptural forms made him a pioneer of deconstructivism.

He is survived by his wife, Berta Isabel Aguilera, and his children, while cities such as Bilbao, Los Angeles and Paris remain a living testament to his vision.

Frank Gehry created urban experiences that connected with people on an emotional level. His work shows that architecture can drive social, cultural and economic transformation. His structures will continue to inspire future generations.

Sources: Sortira Paris, EuroNews