Legendary Architect Frank Gehry Passes Away at 96

Frank Gehry, the visionary architect behind some of the world’s most iconic and imaginative buildings, has died at the age of 96. Gehry passed away on Friday at his home in Santa Monica, California, following a brief respiratory illness, according to Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP.

Celebrated for blending pop art with monumental architecture, Gehry reshaped skylines from Los Angeles and New York to Prague and Bilbao, creating structures that are instantly recognizable and widely admired.

Masterpieces That Redefined Architecture

Among Gehry’s most famous works are:

• Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain – an emblem of his sculptural, curving style.
• Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles – a metallic symphony of shapes and light.
• DZ Bank Building in Berlin, Germany – an innovative urban landmark.
• Expansion of Facebook’s Northern California headquarters at the request of CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Gehry also contributed to New York City’s skyline with the IAC Building in Chelsea and the 76-story New York by Gehry residential tower in lower Manhattan. His Dancing House in Prague, also known as the Fred and Ginger Building, remains a celebrated example of his playful, unconventional design approach.

Awards and Honors

Gehry received virtually every major architecture award, including:

• The Pritzker Prize – architecture’s highest honor, described as “refreshingly original and totally American.”
• Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal.
• Americans for the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Companion of the Order of Canada, his native country’s highest honor.

Even some of his early, more conventional projects gained later recognition after renovations. Gehry often viewed his own work with humor, embracing both praise and criticism.

Influence, Teaching, and Public Persona

Gehry continued designing well into his 80s and also shared his expertise as a professor of architecture at the University of Southern California, with stints at Yale and Columbia University. Known for his humility and wit, he appeared as himself in a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, highlighting his playful engagement with popular culture.

While some critics dismissed his work as tourist attractions or chaotic forms, Gehry’s fans celebrated his bold, innovative approach that challenged conventional architectural norms.

Early Life

Born Ephraim Owen Goldberg in Toronto on February 28, 1929, Gehry moved to Los Angeles in 1947 and became a US citizen. A college ceramics teacher recognized his talent, inspiring him to pursue architecture. He earned a degree from the University of Southern California in 1954 and later studied urban planning at Harvard University.

Surviving Family

Gehry is survived by his wife, Berta, his children Brina, Alejandro, and Samuel, and the countless buildings he designed. Another daughter, Leslie Gehry Brenner, passed away in 2008.

Gehry’s legacy lies not only in the extraordinary structures he built but also in the inspiration he provided to generations of architects worldwide.