• Frank Gehry, the iconic architect known for the Guggenheim Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall, has passed away at 96.
• He died at his home in Santa Monica after a brief respiratory illness, according to his chief of staff.
• Gehry was acclaimed for his innovative designs and won numerous prestigious awards, including the Pritzker Prize.
• His work included landmarks such as the IAC Building in New York and the DZ Bank Building in Berlin.
• Gehry's impact on contemporary architecture earned him a unique status among artists and architects worldwide.

Frank Gehry, acclaimed as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, has died at the age of 96 at his home in Santa Monica, California, after a brief respiratory illness, confirmed Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP. His designs, including the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, revolutionized modern architecture and brought him global acclaim, making him a household name in the field, according to latimes and scmp.

Known for his playful and imaginative architectural style, Gehry's fascination with modern pop art influenced his bold, sculptural buildings. His renowned works include not only the Guggenheim and Disney Hall but also the DZ Bank Building in Berlin and the IAC Building in New York City, illustrating an innovative use of materials like titanium and stainless steel, as highlighted by aljazeera and sfgate.

Gehry's career spanned over six decades, earning him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Pritzker Prize and the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal. His architectural language was described as “refreshingly original and totally American,” complementing his role in reshaping public perceptions of architecture worldwide, according to cbsnews and lemonde.

While Gehry received widespread acclaim, he also faced criticism from some who viewed his playful designs as impractical. Detractors described some of his projects, like the Disney Hall, as chaotic structures that lacked functional coherence. However, Gehry himself emphasized the importance of joy and optimism in architecture, stating, “a building for music and performance should be joyful,” according to npr and bbc.

Despite controversies, Gehry remained a pivotal figure in the world of architecture, continuing to innovate even into his 80s. His ongoing influence is reflected in buildings like the New York By Gehry residential tower, which opened in 2011 and was among the world's tallest residential structures. His dedication to architectural education also saw him teaching at institutions like the University of Southern California and Yale University, according to npr, lemonde, and bbc.