Frank Gehry’s Forgotten Masterpiece: His Own House in Santa Monica
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Frank Gehry, who passed away at age 96, is renowned for his innovative architectural designs such as the Vitra Museum, Guggenheim Bilbao, and Disney Hall, characterized by swooping, unconventional forms inspired by everyday objects.
- Despite his fame for grand projects, Gehry's early work on his own modest Santa Monica home is often overlooked; he transformed a simple 1920s pink bungalow using inexpensive materials like chain-link fencing and plywood.
- Gehry's renovation of the bungalow in the late 1970s marked an early example of Deconstructivist architecture, reflecting his creative use of everyday materials reminiscent of his childhood experiences.
- The house, purchased for $160,000, was a humble two-story