Santa Monica, 6 December (H.S.): Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born architect renowned for his deconstructivist masterpieces that reshaped global skylines, passed away on Friday at his Santa Monica home following a brief respiratory illness.

At 96, Gehry leaves behind an indelible legacy of wildly imaginative structures, including the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.Gehry's fascination with modern pop art propelled him to create buildings that defied convention, earning him universal acclaim rarely bestowed upon architects. He secured architecture's highest honors, such as the Pritzker Prize for his refreshingly original and totally American designs, alongside the Royal Institute of British Architects' gold medal and Canada's Order of Canada.

Key projects like Berlin's DZ Bank Building, New York's shimmering IAC Headquarters, and the towering 76-story New York by Gehry residential tower exemplified his innovative use of titanium, glass, and fluid forms. Despite criticism from some who viewed his work as overly theatrical or tourist-driven, Gehry continued designing into his 80s, even toning down proposals like Facebook's headquarters at Mark Zuckerberg's request.

Gehry's early epiphany came from reimagining a mundane Santa Monica mall, influencing his career shift from conventional architecture. He later taught at institutions including Yale, Columbia, and his alma mater, the University of Southern California. His death marks the end of an era for boundary-pushing design that blended artistry with structural daring.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar