Overview
- Gehry died on December 5 at his Santa Monica home after a brief respiratory illness, confirmed by his chief of staff, Meaghan Lloyd.
- A leading figure of deconstructivism, he pushed unconventional materials and aerospace-grade software to build complex forms once thought unconstructible.
- The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (1997) became a global case study in urban renewal, drawing nearly 25 million visitors and generating over €6.5 billion in direct economic impact, according to reported figures.
- His global portfolio includes Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, 8 Spruce Street in New York, the Dancing House in Prague and Panama’s Biomuseo, earning honors such as the Pritzker Prize (1989) and AIA Gold Medal (1999).
- Projects continue beyond his death, with the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi under construction and reported to be slated for a 2026 opening, as colleagues and cultural leaders worldwide pay tribute to his legacy.