Frank Gehry, Architect [Paperback]

Jean-Louis Cohen (Author), J. Fiona Ragheb (Editor), Frank Gehry (Author), William Mitchell (Contributor), Frank O. Gehry (Author)

Book Description

Series: Guggenheim Museum Publications | Publication Date: July 2, 2003

New Lower Price This book, the catalogue to the first large-scale retrospective of Frank Gehry's work in 15 years, examines the Los Angeles-based architect's unique vision and audacious accomplishments. Frank Gehry, Architect presents nearly 40 of Gehry's most significant works, from his earliest residential projects, including the 1977-78 transformation of his own Santa Monica residence--in which he used chain-link fencing, asphalt flooring and corrugated sheet metal to effectively build a house around an existing house--through his most recent public buildings worldwide. Among these, his best-known completed project is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, an architectural marvel of limestone, glass and titanium that brought Gehry international renown. This book provides the career-long perspective with which to interpret Gehry's recent work, such as the Nationale-Nederlanden Building in Prague, the Experience Music Project in Seattle and the DG Bank Building in Berlin, as well as a host of major projects currently in progress, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Ray and Maria Stata Center at MIT. Gehry's experiments with furniture design have been complementary to his architectural endeavors, and this book also looks at his celebrated cardboard furniture, bentwood furniture and playful lamps made from Colorcore.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Frank Gehry represents a paradox in architecture. Embraced by established financial and cultural institutions, his work is also viewed as avant-garde. Gehry first drew notice with his original use of ordinary materials, then progressed to nonorthogonal undulating forms, often employing a reflective titanium cladding. His highly sculptural buildings develop from lively, fluid sketches and study models that often include crumpled paper. All of this is ably presented in an exhibition at New York's Guggenheim Museum, for which this publication is the exhibition catalog. The primary didactic materials from the exhibition form the text, supplemented by five important essays: Mildred Friedman writes on the scope of Gehry's career, Beatriz Colomina offers an exhaustive analysis of his Santa Monica house, Cohen examines his urban work, J. Fiona Ragheb provides a comparison of Wright's and Gehry's approaches to form, and William J. Mitchell explains Gehry's dependence on computer-assisted design and modeling. Although the color illustrations are lavish, the photographs of models are poorly resolved, and there are virtually no floor plans. The book complements but does not supersede Francesco Dal Co and Kurt W. Forster's more discerning Frank O. Gehry: The Complete Works (Monacelli, 1998); nonetheless, this volume should be acquired by larger architecture collections. Paul Glassman, New York Sch. of Interior Design Lib.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ragheb's catalog for the first large-scale exhibit of Gehry's work in 15 years includes essays by architect-scholars Jean-Louis Cohen, Beatriz Colomina, and William J. Mitchell that thoroughly analyze the Los Angeles-based architect's vision and daring over 40 productive years. This international touring exhibition traces Gehry's development from his earliest residential projects to his most recent and controversial public buildings. Included is his best known: the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (1991-97), a creation of limestone, glass, and titanium that brought the architect worldwide renown. Since Bilbao, all of Gehry's projects get a lot of attention, including the Nationale Nederlanden Building (1992-96) in Prague, the Experience Music Project (1995-2000) in Seattle, and the DG Bank Building (1995-2001) in Berlin, each assessed in detail with photos, drawings, plans, and scale models. Major projects in progress, such as the Ray and Maria Stata Center (1998-) at MIT, are also discussed. With a biographical chronology, a listing of projects, and a bibliography, this is an essential addition to the architectural shelf. Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Guggenheim Museum (July 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892072776
• ISBN-13: 978-0892072774
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,009,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, February 7, 2003

By 

"enzion" (San Luis Obispo, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frank Gehry, Architect (Guggenheim Museum Publications) (Hardcover)

I just want to begin this review by saying that this book is a need for any architect's library. The book Frank Gehry, Architect, provides a wealth of knowledge about the architect as well as the structures that he has created over time. Most pages in this book (and there are many) contain full color pictures, sketches, or descriptions about the structure and the architect. This book spans from Gehry's earliest projects to project underdevelopment. Projects range from structures to furniture, and even to art (sculpture like stuff). An aspect that I like most about this book is seeing Gehry develop his ideas and hone his craft. I should also add that this book also contains several models that were created for structures. I think this is essential because it allows beginning architects a chance to see effective model building techniques as well as different ways to convey a feeling which is essential for effective communication with a client. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all architects and students.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEFINITIVE GEHRY, October 25, 2006

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frank Gehry, Architect (Paperback)

Well done survey of Gehry's work by Gehry himself, as such, the text is highly informative and the images show his work in its best light. Gehry is without question one of the most influential architects working today, and though I would not necessarily call me a worshiper of his work, im more of a richard meier, santiago calatrava kinda guy, I do respect his awesome talent and his contributions to the field of architecture. If you have any interest at all in Gehry or architecture in general, then I highly recommend you added this to you library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recomended for all creative minds, January 3, 2007

By 

S. Downes (East Coast) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Frank Gehry, Architect (Paperback)

A wonderful exploration into the thought and work process of creative artist and his team. Frank Gehry is to architecture what Dale Chihuly is to glass.