Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry has died at the age of 96. That reports The New York Times Friday. He died of a short-term respiratory infection. He was one of the most innovative and influential architects of his generation.
Gehry achieved worldwide fame with the Guggenheim Museum (1997) in Bilbao, Spain, one of his most iconic and celebrated designs. The titanium-clad building gave the city international allure and attracted a large influx of tourists, a phenomenon later called the ‘Bilbao effect’.
In his work, Gehry continually challenged traditional architectural views. His designs are known for their irregular, imaginative and sculptural shapes.
In addition to the Guggenheim, Gehry completed many other high-profile projects. For example, he designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, famous for its glittering metal facades and cocoon-like interior. The New World Center in Miami is also considered a masterpiece, partly because of the cylindrical practice rooms. The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, which looks as if it is made of large, blown glass sails, is also one of his most famous creations.
In 1989, Gehry received the prestigious Pritzker Prize, the highest international award in architecture. Before that, he had already won almost every major prize the architectural world has to offer.
Louis Vuitton, Paris.
Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Photo: Entienne Laurent/ ANP
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
Photo: Getty Images
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