Ephraim Owen Goldberg was born February 28Th 1929 in Toronto Canada, his grandmother encouraged him at an early age to play with scrap pieces of wood with which he would make models of imaginary city's. Moving to Los Angeles he enrolled in Los Angeles City College later graduating from University of Southern California's Architecture program, during his study he supported himself by driving trucks. Later he would enrol in a city planning postgraduate program at Harvard but he did not complete the course. It was his first wife who suggested he change his name to Frank Gehry possible to appear less exotic.

Frank Gehry has become famous for his flowing cubist style (you could say Gehry embodies the visual ideas advocated by the Italian Futurists-their idea of metallic machine aesthetic and their avoidance of the appearance of stability or non-motion with in forms) exterior surfaces, often standing out in their environment by their lack of reference to the local design context. Gehry's work is considered post-modern though Gehry avoids categorising
himself into any stylistic camp.

While his work is visually compelling critics has pointed out the limited form vocabulary
Gehry employs in his buildings often questioning Gehrys perceived status as an innovator. While Gehry denies theoretical adhenrence to Post modernism his buildings revel his critiquing the cultural norms and functional requirements that often influence or control the design of a building. This has led to problems with Gehrys designs as they interact with their local environment-his design for the Los Angeles Disney Concert Hall has caused problems as the buildings metal cladding reflect and focus sunlight onto the pavement creating a fire hazard.
All this criticism has not stopped Gehry from receiving commissions internationally or diminished his statues as a "Starchitect". Only time will tell if Frank Gehrys contribution to Architecture will be enduring.... More • http://www.foga.com View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Architects • Architecture • Canada • People