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Legendary architect Frank Gehry dies aged 96

December 6, 2025

Frank Gehry, the revolutionary architect known for his deconstructivist style and sculptural buildings, has passed away at age 96. The Toronto-born designer gained worldwide recognition through groundbreaking projects like the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, which transformed the Spanish city's economy and inspired the "Bilbao effect" phenomenon. Throughout his career, Gehry rejected traditional architectural principles by incorporating unconventional materials and curved geometric forms, using advanced 3D modeling technology to create distinctive structures that evoked emotional responses.

Who is affected

  • Frank Gehry's family: wife Berta Isabel Aguilera, daughters Leslie and Brina from his first marriage, and sons Alejandro and Samuel
  • The architectural community and Gehry's admirers worldwide
  • Cities that house his iconic structures, including Bilbao, Paris, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Sydney
  • LVMH and Louis Vuitton (Bernard Arnault specifically mentioned)
  • The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
  • People in Canada (as noted by Prime Minister Mark Carney's statement)

What action is being taken

  • The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is posting video tributes to Gehry
  • Tributes are being made celebrating his legacy and willingness to discard convention
  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is extending condolences in a statement

Why it matters

  • Frank Gehry fundamentally transformed contemporary architecture by breaking from traditional principles and pioneering deconstructivism, demonstrating that buildings could be emotionally engaging sculptures rather than merely functional structures. His Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao proved that bold architectural investment could revitalize struggling cities economically through cultural tourism, creating the widely studied "Bilbao effect." His willingness to use advanced technology and unconventional materials expanded the possibilities of what architecture could achieve, influencing generations of architects and changing the skylines of major cities worldwide.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC