Frank Gehry Interview: Jump Into the Unknown

Frank Gehry (b.1929) is recognized as one of the most important architects of our time, and his spectacular buildings – including the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall – have won him worldwide renown. Watch the Canadian-American architect talk about his life, architecture and the world today in this in-depth video recorded at his studio in Los Angeles.

When a teacher enrolled the young Gehry in a night-class at architecture school, it became the beginning of a long career: “It was all by chance.” At that time, American architects – including Frank Lloyd Wright – were inspired by Japanese architecture, and Gehry feels that this early influence has stayed with him ever since, not least when he built the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles: “You’d think Disney Hall was a Japanese temple.”

“That’s what an architect should do – be able to have an emotional response to their work that lasts through the centuries.” If you want to be an architect, Gehry argues, first of all, you’ve got to learn the craft, but also “your personal spirit has to evolve into the language that you create.” Everyone will ultimately produce something different, personal and completely unique – like a signature – and it’s important to be brave enough to “take the chance to jump off into the unknown.” Architecture is about feelings, and the best architects, or artists, are themselves and no one else. In continuation of this, Gehry believes that architecture is about the singularity of the building as well as being part of the surroundings, and he finds it aggravating that all buildings in cities nowadays look the same: “Downtown Los Angeles now looks like Downtown Seoul, Korea.”

Frank Gehry (b. 1929) is a Canadian-born American architect, who is known for his trademark sculptural style. Although critical opinion is sometimes divided over his radical, whimsical structures, Gehry’s work made architecture popular in a way not seen in the U.S. since Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959). A number of Gehry’s buildings have become world-renowned attractions and have been cited as being among the most important works of contemporary architecture in the 2010 World Architecture Survey, which later led Vanity Fair to label him as “the most important architect of our age.” Among his best-known buildings are Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (which fellow architect Philip Johnson once dubbed “the greatest building of our time”), Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, Neuer Zollhof in Dusseldorf, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Dancing House in Prague, Biomuseo in Panama City, and Cinémathèque Francaise in Paris. Furthermore, his private residence in Santa Monica is the award-winning ‘Gehry House’. Gehry is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards including the Pritzker Architecture Prize (1989), the Praemium Imperiale (1992), National Medal of Arts (1998), AIA Gold Medal (1999), Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement (2000), Prince of Asturias Award (2014), J. Paul Getty Medal (2015) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016).

Frank Gehry was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner at his studio in Santa Monica, Los Angeles in November 2018.

Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard
Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner
Edited by: Roxanne Bagheshirin Lærkesen
Cover photo: Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles by Frank Gehry
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2019

Supported by Dreyers Fond

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[axeyguitar]

There’s a lot of disrespectful comments here. Be it as it may, Gehry’s opinions and views come from a literal lifetime’s worth of wisdom. He’s seen the good and the bad of almost the entire 20th century and stepped into the 21st with knowledge of what worked and what didn’t for him, his craft and society. To all those belittling and demeaning his work, I’d like to see you make a design that will be remembered and is a root for architects, designers and artists to look up to.

[lexaneli]

As someone in the field of Architecture, when you listen to the visionaries, the greatest architects of there time and throughout history, it always amazes me beyond my own imagination that these creative human beings exist. No matter how many times you watch their interviews, it always feels like the first and I am always in star struck because of how much I admire these great beings who have such love for the profession and it shows through their work and continuous effort. It might be a long shot, but I hope some day to meet these living legends.
Rest in peace to Zaha, my Archi-Heroine.

[YusufOnder]

I am not a big fan of Gehry, but listening to his knowledge was fascinating. Thanks for this Louisiana Channel. Big love from a young Architect started his own firm few months ago.

[reddevilian]

It takes an opened and informed mind to understand the quality in his work.

[lexaneli]

One of my favourite Architects, Artists, Innovators, independent thinker... Just being who he is inspires me! I hope he lives a very long life doing what he does and continue to inspire those who see him as a beacon of light .

[MrRamongh]

Impressed by his eloquence and lucidity.

[manichairdo]

I love to know the heart and mind of architects and others who are gifted.

[MilciadesAndrion]

Great conference. He is not a regular Architect but an Artist and his creative mind produced real masterpieces. I visited the Biomuseo in Panama and the mix of colors, the design, and the roof are an unforgettable experience. I liked the video and subscribed to the channel.

[lisengel]

I love and admire the architecture of Gehry - so unique and organic as a form growing from a landscape intertwining with the sensitivity of a bodymind - searching shelter and at the same time opening into landscapes of beauty, mystery of Earth, Sky, Sun and Stars

[Azul.]

Love it, love it!!
This man deserves to live 90 more years...

[WendyWatersctmm]

Genius is always hard for the plebs to understand but future generations will be grateful for his contribution to the city-scapes. When these geniuses drain the civic purse they are denigrated but fast-forward a century or two or ten and we marvel at the Pyramids, the Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House. Thank you sir!

[michaelkaplanb]

wonderful interview. great insight into the origin of creativity.

[langdu]

Revealation lead to freedom! Spatial experience in Gehry's architecture among other great one's is just that!

[Constantinesis]

It is extraordinary when you consider the legacy of Frank Gehry. I am fortunate to be contemporary with him. His best advice : Find your own voice.

[juliandiazphillips]

Thanks...the only word that comes to my mind...

[ubserrano]

I have been watching your videos, very good content! Nice work.

[ericchristen]

Anyone who dares to step outside of the box of convention is to be both commended and appreciated. In a world of psychological clones the different are the jewels of civilisation. Well done Frank and I am sure you do not give a f*ck about small minded mediocrities!

[aliqazilbash]

alrighty.. I have had a group of people who cheated me out of fiduciary duty, so I guess we will leave politics out of the discussion for now... 😅

when I first came to know of the disney hall, I said to myself, his design is almost mind bending to me.. and I have been a Frank Gehry fan ever since.. it is interesting how you mentioned your new found reservations at age 90, my father uttered similar remarks at the passing of my grand father.. he said ever since he lost his dad, it is like he lost his backing.. meaning he could no longer be as adventurous without his father's shade.. he could no longer afford to push the frontiers, perhaps who he really lost was his one best friend..

I have made so much money and I thought I was ready to usher in the next era of contemporary renaissance in architecture.. feed my original passion, what I thought was my natural calling.. and I came here today seeking inspiration in that regard, precisely..


when? very very soon, I declare.. god willing or just a man's will, I could rescue my self from these dishonest money management firm, because they do nothing except speak to my dark side, hence I have withheld all of my creativity from the rest.. things that I consider constructive, beautiful and valuable.. once I am rid of these false dilemma's and cheap-ish idiots, I will indeed, vist the disney concert hall.. go see the iconic Guggenheim museum and go from there..

did you know, it is your workspace, what I am really liked.. I wish to have the same setting for my own self, soon..

best,

Ali

[paulturner]

I also have a one-word response... Inspiring.

[harperwelch]

The Disney Center is the single best piece of modern architecture. I’ve seen photos of all major pieces of architecture built within the past 100 years. None is capable of achieving the compelling visual poetry of the Disney Center.