Frank Gehry, the world-renowned architect who designed some of the most iconic buildings of the modern era, has died at the age of 96. According to his office spokesperson Meaghan Lloyd, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect passed away at his home in Santa Monica following a brief respiratory illness.
Gehry was among the most famous and sought-after architects globally, with his distinctive deconstructivist designs gracing cities around the world. His most celebrated works include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which transformed the industrial city into a cultural destination and became a symbol of architectural innovation. Other notable projects include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the DZ Bank building in Berlin, the Neue Zollhof complex in Düsseldorf, and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany.
The architect's international portfolio also encompasses the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C. His residential projects can be found in major cities including Prague, New York, and numerous other metropolitan areas worldwide.
Born in 1929 in Toronto, Canada, Gehry was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. As a teenager, his family relocated to Los Angeles, where both he and his father worked as truck drivers to make ends meet. It was at an evening school, where Gehry was completing his high school education, that a teacher recognized his interest in architecture and encouraged him to pursue the field.
In the 1960s, Gehry established his own architectural studio in Los Angeles and began securing his first commissions. Even in his advanced age, the architect continued working on designs and projects until the end of his life, maintaining his passion for innovative architecture well into his 90s. His death marks the end of an era for contemporary architecture, leaving behind a legacy of bold, sculptural buildings that challenged conventional design principles and redefined urban skylines across the globe.
