Frank Gehry, the architectural titan, reshaped skylines worldwide with his iconic designs. But, did you know that some of his most intriguing projects weren't soaring skyscrapers, but rather, his own homes?
Gehry, who sadly passed away at the age of 96 in his Santa Monica home, left behind a legacy of groundbreaking structures. Before he wowed the world with the Guggenheim Museum in Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and 8 Spruce Street in Manhattan, he embarked on a more personal journey: renovating his own residences.
His first venture was a modest 1920s bungalow in Santa Monica, now known simply as the Gehry Residence. He and his wife, Berta Gehry, purchased it in 1977 for a mere $160,000 (equivalent to roughly $846,000 today). He described the original house as a 'sweet little house that everyone in the neighborhood liked'.
With a budget of just $50,000 (around $264,500 today) and a willingness to challenge conventional norms, Gehry transformed this home into a deconstructivist masterpiece.
Paul Goldberger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic, noted that this home was Gehry's 'laboratory' for experimenting with raw industrial materials like plywood and corrugated metal. He used these materials to create a complex and emotionally engaging experience, something rarely associated with such materials.
Over time, Gehry built a shell-like facade around the original home. The structure evolved, incorporating materials like chain-link fencing and wood framing, with tilted glass cubes that filled the interior with light. Goldberger explained that Gehry wanted the new design to envelop the old house without completely erasing it, creating a dialogue between the old and the new. The Los Angeles Conservancy described the final effect as 'a sense of being perpetually under construction.'
But here's where it gets controversial... The Gehry Residence wasn't universally loved. Gehry himself mentioned that some neighbors were 'really pissed off,' and one even attempted to sue him.
Gehry's nonconformist style continued to evolve. His second home in Los Angeles, built when he was 90, showcases his decades of experimentation.
This time, with the help of his son, Samuel Gehry, he built a dream home overlooking Santa Monica Canyon and the Pacific Ocean. They used the same signature angles, glass panes, and sculptural qualities that defined his artistic style. This project had a much larger budget, and Douglas fir replaced plywood. Gehry called this a 'once-in-a-lifetime' house.
Both properties remain in the Gehry family.
What do you think of Gehry's architectural choices? Do you admire his willingness to challenge norms, or do you find his designs too unconventional? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
