Customer Reviews

Frank O. Gehry: The Complete Works

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For some time, Gehry's architecture has astonished and exasperated architectural critics, but it is his bizarre concrete-steel-limestone-titanium-and-glass Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain (1997) that has brought his eccentric fantasies to the attention of a broader public. The short, critical essays in this book, one by the noted architectural historian Kurt Forster and the other by Italian architectural critic Franceco dal Co, will not help the reader understand the complex of ideas that lies behind Gehry's work; but Hadley Arnold's 517-page catalog that traces Gehry's work from his senior thesis project at the University of California (1954) to his One Times Square proposal (1997) is an architectural historian's delight, with hundreds of plans and color illustrations of models, projects, and completed works. There is also a "Project Register" that provides a year-by-year synopsis of Gehry's work, a biography that includes Gehry's awards and prizes, and a 21-page bibliography. This book is the perfect introduction to Gehry's work, and it will be an essential purchase for all libraries that support either an undergraduate or graduate program in architecture. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. E. Van Schaack, formerly Colgate University

I like how this book shows how Gehry's architecture progressed from his Senior Thesis Project to his recent works. It's interesting how simple his architecture once was, to how much more complex it is now. Buy this book, you will always enjoy it.

This book is a must for Gehry-fan. Whilst I don't rever him like a God but I do admire his enormous talent & his willingness to experiment with materials in constructing buildings & furniture. In this book, you would get the feel that he's not merely an architect but also an artist. In other words, functionality & aesthetics blend harmoniously together. I particularly enjoy the latter part of the book where it displayed more of his famous works such as the Vitra office, Guggenheim Museum, etc. The first illustrations of his works are something that I can do without because they are works that any draughtsperson could produce. I suppose this book is a bibliography & therefore, it's essential for the readers to know of his humble beginning to understand his eventual greatness. Besides, with his new fame, abundant resources in the form of budget, technology, assistant staff also come in very handy as well. The book does omit the kettle project that Frank worked with Alessi, though. I'm looking forward to savour the 2nd edition of the book, if there's any.

Architecture is my first love although I am a Art History Major. So without any dobt I knew this publication would be right up my ally. To say the least I was not dissappointed. A brief, illustrated synopsis was given on all projects right up to the current "Music Experience" extravaganza. One point I found of particular interest was that in most of the Bios it gave the Budget that Gehry had to work in. It is a massive book and printed on top quality stock. One that will last a lifetime in my Library. It is a book worthy of any one interested in cutting edge design. Although alot of the projects are in Europe as they seem to be more accepting of his progressive designs the commissioned works in America are just as fine. I can only anticipate the "New Guggenheim"in New York.

i did not have a good impression of gehry until i got this book. i got it because i had to know what this guy is thinking when he comes up with what i thought was "ugly" stuff (i now feel ashamed to admit that). now i see the beauty of his work.
my eyes have been opened. i now have a greater respect for what he is doing.
the photography is amazing...the book provides sketches and insight into what gehry is trying to do.
must have for architectural students/interns

this amazing book of another master of 20th century architecture, and one to contine his brillant work in the 21st. This book is full of images and writing relating to his designs and concept ideas. For any architecture student this book is an amazing sorce of ideas.

essential reading for all us gehry-freaks...well, i guess it is. i haven't been able to concentrate on the text just yet. the photographs keep distracting me from my attempts at a disciplined study of the works. but who cares, right? if you are devoted to frank gehry you MUST have this book on your shelf. open the covers of this book and become familiar with a genius. in a world dominated by boyzone, mcdonald's, and teletubbies it is a relief to know that the mechanics of the human mind can achieve so much more. frank gehry is a true inspiration for all of mankind. break out of the box and find out what frank is trying to say.

Frank Gehry has risen to critical and world acclaim with such structures as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain (1991-1997, the Walt Disney Concert Hall (1987-2003), and the Stata Buildings at MIT (1998). This book begins at the genesis of Ghery's career, with his senior theis at the University Of california in 1954, and the Steeves residence (1958-1959), which was his first actual commission. This book, in chronological order, lists every single Gehry project, built and unbuilt. Accompanying the plans and pictures, are deatails on the client, the project team, the cost, and sqaure footage for each project. On select projects, there are short essays that describe the nature of that particular building. The first 30 pages or so have detailed opening essays by Kurt W. Foster and Francesco Dal Co that nicely describe the influences and the way of working of Gehry. The back contains biographical information, a project list, and a detailed biblography. This is one of the most thorough studies on the architect to date, and there is no comparable work that can match up to the quality and completeness of this book. Readers will enjoy learning about the early, lesser-known works, as well as learning fascinating, fresh details on the well-known buildings. As far as the text is concerned, the sporadic use of it may have been for the purposes of empahsizing to the readers the highly visual nature of Gehry's works by including mostly pictures. If you are an architecrure afficiando, or just a casual observer, this book is for you.

This book represents all what Frank Gehry is. With beautiful photos and good texts, you can know all work of this that's one of the best architets of actuality. Frank Gehry's Complete Works must be bought and read, it's like a bible of desconstrutivism architetury. The price is wonderfull and the quality too. I love it.

There are no words to describe this fantastic book. Francesco Dal Co and others autor's made an excelent work for students, architects and people who are interested in good architecture. Congratulations!