Are you familiar with the famed American architect Frank Gehry? Even if you’re not, you probably have already seen some of his most famous creations. On the other hand, you might be know his works but not like his style. Love him or hate him, Frank Gehry is among the world’s most important figures in postmodern architecture history.
About Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry is often regarded as the greatest modern architect in history. Born Frank Owen Goldberg in 1929 in Toronto, Canada, his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1947. At that time, his father changed the family name, a then common practice amongst Jewish families. In the 1950s, Frank Gehry graduated from the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Architecture. In a prestigious career spanning more than six decades, he is among the world’s most sought after architects. Today, he continues to lead Gehry Partners LLC in Los Angeles.
Dancing House
Jiráskovo náměstí 1981/6
12000 Prague 2 (Czech Republic)
Tel.:+420720983172
www.dancinghousehotel.com
If you want to stay in Prague’s most unusual hotel, it has to be Dancing House. Overlooking the city’s famed riverfront, Dancing House is a small luxury hotel with 40 guestrooms and suites. Co-designed by Gehry and Croatian architect Vlado Milunić, the structure curiously resembles two dancing figures. In fact, Gehry himself once named it Fred (Astaire) and Ginger (Rogers). This is among most familiar forms of Gehry architecture. Popular attractions like the Charles Bridge and Old Prague are minutes away.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Abandoibarra Avenue, 2
48009 Bilbao, Spain
+34 944 35 90 00
www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus
The Guggenheim in Bilbao is arguable Gehry’s most recognizable architecture outside the U.S. Indeed, it’s regarded as among the most important works of its era. The museum itself is among Spain’s largest and an undeniable city landmark. The acclaimed modern art museum’s collections includes works from Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Additionally, not far from the Guggenheim Museum is La Ribera, Europe’s largest indoor market.
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Jay Pritzker Pavilion
201 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 742-1168
www.jaypritzkerpavilion.com
With a seating capacity of 11,000 the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a signature attraction in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Mere footsteps from the equally popular Cloud Gate, the Pavilion holds 4,000 seats, along with spacious lawn seating. Jay Pritzker Pavilion hosts events year round and is home to the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. Coupled with the Pavilion is the Gehry-designed BP Pedestrian Bridge that crosses over South Columbus Drive.
Marqués de Riscal Hotel
C.Torrea Kalea, 1
01340 Eltziego
Álava, Spain
+34 945 18 08 80
www.marriott.com
It’s safe to say you won’t find another Marriott hotel like this one. To put it another way, Marqués de Riscal is widely considered as Marriott International’s crown jewel. A colorful mesh of titanium and steel, this stunning luxury hotel features 61 guestrooms and suites. The sprawling property is additionally home to one of world’s best wineries. What’s more, Guggenheim Bilbao is approximately 78 miles away.
MARTa Herford
Goebenstraße 2,
32052 Herford, Germany
+49 5221 9944300
www.marta-herford.de
Unlike most Gehry’s creations, MARTa seems to be built mostly with bricks. Yet if you look at a different angle, you’ll notice that steel remains dominant. MARTa Herford is a contemporary art museum that prides itself as all inclusive. Its acronym is derived from the German word for furniture and art. That’s because a good percentage of German furniture is produced here in the North Rhein/Westphalia region.
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Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
325 Fifth Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 770-2700
www.mopop.org
With its shimmering steel/aluminum exterior, MoPop is clearly a Frank Gehry design. Moreover, it further stands out with a unique public Monorail system that passes through. On the other hand, it’s been criticized as much as it has been hailed as a masterpiece. Opened as the EMP Museum by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, its original concept design were made from sliced up guitars. For this reason, MoPop is known to house the world’s largest collection of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia.
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New York By Gehry
8 Spruce St.
New York, New York 10038
(833) 532-6900
www.live8spruce.com
At 879 feet, 8 Spruce Street doesn’t seem exceptionally tall amongst a city full of skyscrapers. On the other hand, it’s among the tallest residential towers in the world. Indeed, at the time of completion, it was the tallest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The first skyscraper designed by Frank Gehry, 8 Spruce Street features 904 high rise apartments. Additionally, it houses a public elementary school and a number of retail businesses.
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Peix d’Or Olímpic Frank Gehry
Carrer de Ramon Trias Fargas 2
08005 Barcelona, Spain
www.barcelonaturisme.com
At first glance, you might not associate this giant goldfish as a Gehry design. Yet as you notice its changing colors from the sun’s reflections, you’ll agree it’s Gehry-esque. Built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, El Peix is a centerpiece along the city’s vibrant La Barceloneta. Furthermore, Spain’s second largest city is world renowned for its architectural marvels. For example, there are Gaudi’s Casa Batiló, Casa Milà and his pièce de resistance, La Sagrada Familia.
Peter B. Lewis Building
Case Western University
1119 Bellflower Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 368-0019
www.weatherhead.case.edu
This Gehry design serves as the primary facility for Case Western University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Named after its principal donor, it clearly stands out in Cleveland’s University Circle. An architectural city landmark, its design is a reflection of the school’s innovative approach to business management. In fact, the Peter B. Lewis Building has helped improve the national ranking of the management school.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 850-2000
www.musiccenter.org
One Gehry’s most acclaimed examples of postmodern architecture is the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Opened in 2003 as the new home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, it’s widely regarded as among the world’s finest music venues. Moreover, the Concert Hall is credited for revitalizing downtown Los Angeles. In fact, a new Gehry residential/retail project, the Grand LA is nearing completion.
About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, he reportedly had a digital audience reach of 489 million and more than 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additional stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC, NJ.com and Radio.com. He is a Media Fellow of Stanford University.
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