Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry is one of the most important architects of the 20th and 21st centuries, known for his deconstructive architectural style and innovative structures that are more like sculptures than conventional buildings.
He was born in Canada but settled in the United States in the 1940s. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California (USC) and later studied Planning and Urban Design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
In 1962 he founded Gehry Partners LLP, an architectural firm based in Los Angeles. In the late 1970s, he gained worldwide recognition with his renovated house in Santa Monica, which was considered radical for the time.

Frank Gehry is the ultimate exponent of deconstructivism, a trend that challenges traditional geometric forms and creates dynamic, asymmetrical and organic buildings. His structures resemble sculptures and reject strict rectangular symmetry. He prefers titanium, aluminium, stainless steel and glass, giving his buildings a “fluid” character. From recycled wood to curious metal compositions, Gehry seeks innovative solutions. His buildings reflect light in unique ways, creating ever-changing images. Instead of constructing “traditional” buildings, he creates structures that resemble works of art.

Emblematic Projects
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (1997) – One of the world’s most famous buildings, which revitalized the city of Bilbao and established the “Gehry Effect”. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles (2003) – An impressive concert hall with undulating metal surfaces. Dancing House, Prague (1996) – One of the most recognizable buildings in Europe, also known as “the Fred and Ginger”.
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris (2014) – Cultural centre that resembles a huge glass sailing ship.
Biomuseo, Panama (2014) – A colourful museum dedicated to the biodiversity of Central America.

Awards & Distinctions
Pritzker Prize (1989) – The world’s leading architecture prize.
Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016) – The highest civilian award in the United States.
Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects (1999)