Contemporary Architecture’s Biggest Star

Even if you don’t know who Frank Gehry is, you’ve probably been amazed by his work. The architect is responsible for some of the most eye-popping buildings in the world: Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Prague’s Dancing House and more.

Gehry made his name as an architect by remodeling his own house in Santa Monica, Calif. Known as the Gehry Residence, the building is an early example of his iconic deconstructivist style, which aims to break down the elements of architecture and distort them, often in mind-bending ways. Gehry explored this world of architecture by using unconventional materials like corrugated steel and fencing, wrapping the original exterior of his home with a new one while allowing old parts to show through.

Walt Disney Concert, Los Angeles, California © Jorg Hackemann | Dreamstime

Finished in 1977, the home wasn’t well received by his neighbors who hadn’t seen anything like what Gehry was building. While his buildings are certainly eye-popping, they’re not quite as shocking as they were in the late 70s. Dancing House, for example, was a controversial design in Prague for its stark contrast with the Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture surrounding it, featuring two adjacent and off-kilter towers designed by Gehry in collaboration with Czech architect Vlado Milunić.

Shortly after Prague, the man would become the world’s first “starchitect” with the completion of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain. The chrome-covered complex is one of the most significant structures in architecture, introducing many people to the field for the first time after unveiling the museum. It bears many similarities to the Walt Disney Opera House of Los Angeles, a collection of stainless steel curves completed in 2003. Other projects of Gehry include the Experience Music Project in Seattle, 8 Spruce Street in New York and MIT’s Stata Center in Cambridge, Mass.

Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic © Mike Clegg | Dreamstime

The man is not without criticism. Gehry’s extravagant style often draws criticism for its use of superfluous elements and wasting of resources. Others fault him for not paying attention to the effects of gentrification, local culture and the climate (rumor has it LA’s Opera House used to be able to cook hotdogs). Whether you’re a fan of his buildings or find them gauche, one can’t deny Gehry’s impact on skylines around the world. The architect is currently working on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial for Washington D.C.