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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[@axeyguitar888]

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.

[@MilciadesAndrion]

I agree with you. Frank Gehry is a rare combination of Architect, Engineer, Artist, and much more. It is more important to appreciate his work than to understand it.

[@blackfeatherstill348]

Hello

[@amariadore2489]

Well. Said.

[@julslatt6294]

🎯Great interview with a visionary creative force, appreciate Frank Gehry’s amazing architecture works & life long contributions! Also still able to share his decades of knowledge, he’s a rare treasure and very wise man too. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@KosieMyburgh]

Shame owo

[@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.

[@jasonhymes3382]

Thats what I always tell people at my resturant. Very few people have the culinary understanding and openess to enjoy my feces curry.

[@jonsonronson7270]

@@jasonhymes3382 I know right , my last painting of a shit smear was never going to be appreciated by such primitive minds , takes a true scholar to appreciate the mindless streaks of brown across a canvas.

[@prabhavchoudhary]

35 minutes of pure gold.

[@maxieduardoapariciom.3181]

Always great to hear the old Master.

[@manichairdo6346]

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

[@johnnylee8194]

gifted as in painter and not genius stem phd. its akin to competitive art. it attract ultimate keeping up with joneses personalities

[@MrRamongh]

Impressed by his eloquence and lucidity.

[@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.

[@alkadan]

Great interview!! Thanks for sharing

[@prawiraagung4011]

Wonderful interview!

[@langdu6659]

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

[@michaelkaplan22b]

wonderful interview. great insight into the origin of creativity.

[@juliandiazphillips3283]

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

[@marisolcouso2004]

Great interview

[@Azul.007]

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

[@ericchristen5433]

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!

[@lisengel2498]

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

[@ubserrano8180]

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

[@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!

[@jonsonronson7270]

ye but doesnt change the fact no one liked his buildings because they are literal trash . pull up pictures of the colosseum and the pyramids , funnily enough they arent experimental stupid designs but built upon by centuries of study and engineering to build a style. funnily enought theyre both symmetrical, and made of brick ( steel and glass decay faster) , and structurally efficient( no extra useless pointy sides) and uses ornamentation and beautiful engravings. all things gehrys designs are not.

[@WendyWatersctmm]

@@jonsonronson7270 Everybody has different taste. I love his work. When the Sydney Opera House was built a lot of people trashed it. Now it's considered one of the world's great modern wonders.

[@jonsonronson7270]

@@WendyWatersctmm ye and studies show people have always prefered traditional style .

[@WendyWatersctmm]

@@jonsonronson7270 As I said genius is rarely understood at first. People cling to the known, the traditional but time works its magic and genius becomes the traditional and the known. Sadly it often takes several generations. Van Gogh didn't sell a single painting in his life and his work was rubbished because it wasn't traditional. Now it's recognised as rare genius. Stravinsky's Firebird was booed by the first-night audience. Now... well, hopefully you get the point. To your point... of course "studies" will always show a preference for the traditional and the known but God forbid Art should be on repeat in perpetuity.

[@jonsonronson7270]

@@WendyWatersctmm you think that architecture should be some experimental art to find whats subjective and expressive but architecture shouldnt be experimental , like cooking uses the same ingredients and flavours . Modern cooks dont throw out cooking books and old recipes they inprove on them or leave them alone . Art is subjective but traditional architecture is reliable, prefered , sustainable and time tested . And requires imense skill in geomatry , symmetry and proportions . He was not a genius as his work contained little consideration or skill . Peoplr like old architecture not cus its old but because its fundamentally based on beauty and human perspective . Mimicing natural patterns we see in nature ( which is also a very good anti depressant) people like and feel comfortable in natural patterns and enviroments thats just obvious . We like to see skill and time taken in design not bland , blank montone shapes . Look into what architecture people prefer and why that is . Its the same reason beauty is based in symmetry and proportions which wont change because beauty isnt entirely subjective.

[@aliqazilbash5231]

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

[@paulturner1973]

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

[@Normanabutler1]

what a brilliant mind!

[@Ozblu3y]

never liked many of his buildings, but I do admire the ability. Anyway, time to watch the vid :o Mind you, I must add I am incredibly naive... in regards to what he has done. edit: Actually, upon thinking about it, I believe his buildings are probably much better understood in person than through photography. But I've never been to them.

[@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.

[@futureentrepreneur123]

There is a saying, in every architect's successful project theres a fellow architects whom disagree with it. In every architect's successful project there are non architects people who appreciate and love it.

[@Andoniarzate]

Un grande 🙌🏼🔥

[@stevecooper3010]

Another great mind

[@bebop54]

wow !....thanks man....

[@gyorgykeves1648]

2pKévés györgy építész LE M8

[@gyorgykeves1648]

3

[@badapple65]

Frank II , the modern version of Frank Lloyd Wright. Has now outlived him by one year. Mr Gehry mentions the computer programs that have been such an important part of modern design that aids on the budget side of architecture in tabulating whether a structure can even be built. Would have been a very important tool for FLW who was known to often be 200% over the commissioner’s budget. Both men share the distinction of being well ahead of their time. Their works over the years, the type of structures that will be saved because of architecture. The buildings that get torn down without much fanfare often because they’re not memorable. No uniqueness to cause people to want to save them. I think that is the difference between design and true architecture.

[@pauliberg3492]

wonderful man , his calm wisdom.

[@durkasree1080]

Yes

[@harperwelch5147]

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.

[@thomcrowley1043]

A modern man with classic knowledge.

[@tomtom1441]

100%

[@kabelodale_]

27:51 - Gehry

[@mistermavix]

ahhh ! Love watching those videos. Inspire me to be a better artist !

[@robinbesson1717]

Wooooooooo what is the music at 10:26 ?

[@NAMLE-qv2id]

it sounds " Appreciate yourself" on this list open.spotify.com/album/6CBvYbUWOZnQ2cSEr31jIF#_=_

[@vladandreiiliescu2890]

His referring to Borromini and Bernini really not Michelangelo

[@syedashrafulmamunabir3001]

I will miss you when you are gone gehry

[@jsnedd66]

I wish i had the money to commission 2 of Mr Gehry's Masterpieces for my home city of Glasgow UK a School of the humanities & a tall building that would put the City on the Map

[@lesediramushu4198]

So refreshing to see an American assumes to know what's right and wrong for the world. classic

[@davidmilner5442]

Gehry is Canadian

[@jeremiahchua3784]

can you mention the timestamp where he's being arrogant? I think you're clouded by envy.

[@ScholasticChad]

"He does not look like the type of man I want to become." His work is pretty tho - his forms came before the function however; anyone know if he built cheap?

[@arathyn8294]

From what he said, Bilbao went apparently underbudget. But as a general statement though, I'd say an emphasis on form can indeed have function. If done at the right place and time, a standout building can bring attention and tourism to the entire area around it, which is highly functional to the people paying for it.

[@ishikawaniv2537]

Gehry: Arti-Tecture.

[@yorreizer4200]

If your here for HW bc your watching this vid and got bored like this comment lol

[@egg.9605]

NAH bozo is watching my every move

[@egg.9605]

a

[@egg.9605]

b

[@dr.doorknob3760]

lol

[@dr.doorknob3760]

@@egg.9605 shush

[@randygeyer7673]

I love physics

[@unconscious-]

Minute 28 put a smile on me

[@canweng5546]

27:17

[@Cal.lm96]

the good man is tired

[@maxbardelang6097]

video title: 12:10

[@magnusm4]

On his teaching website on lesson 2 regarding creativity: "Frank is considered one of the most creative and expressive architects in the world. In this chapter, he’ll share why it’s important to develop your own creative signature and how to embrace the creative insecurity you will inevitably experience." One of the most creative 8/ I have been thinking of building underground massive caves with houses inside surrounded by a moat with mirror reflection in the middle connected to a system up to the tip of a mountain to let sunlight in. Build towers on to houses or alone as a home to give more room for growing more personal agriculture. Expanding balconies inward with walls and a roof to make a larger extra room. This means you can build expansion on the first level of apartment buildings without risk of burglary while adding more value and room to you home with a room that also has extra open intake of sunlight. And you build it one or two steps lower and the roof one step above the roof's level to make it bigger and feel much more open. And because it's using the balcony's space outside the building's wall, you don't have to worry as much about rebuilding the entire floor. Have houses on top of big wide apartment and shopping buildings with stars on the walls of these buildings to second levels where you can have other shops and cafe's like an outside shopping mall with bridges above trolley lines to add more room to move in than just ground level. Build a round pavilion that's really wide maybe 7 to 13 diameters or maybe even more with a spiral staircase on the edge to be used by multiple cafe's and businesses around there for customers with a trash bin in the middle to easily throw and collect it all from all level at the same time. I can go on but when I think creative then I think going outside the box and think in a whole new light. Like people living in mountains or up in trees. This is just a sky scraper and basic shapes covered in glass and glitter. Go back to medieval designs. It was only made to be practical to have more room to move on the streets but it looks awesome

[@rusher511]

I admire your creativity. You should start thinking about how to implement some of these ideas! But this is genuinely interesting.

[@natashachibireva4948]

"I want to be real from the beginning" .. min 19

[@vgcamara]

10:54 ”if your going to be an architect first you have to learn the craft, to be responsible, to build something that's not going to leak" The irony considering It's Gehry saying this 🤣

[@RandallYoung-ir9oy]

Spell me a great I 26:08 need a new secret you know I I'll chase you around the world 🌎

[@RandallYoung-ir9oy]

Don't don't land too soft baby follow me you bug bug me you bug me baby girl your super cool so cool your creative I think your cool your way too cool what color is that I don't even know now I know girl girl girl where friends you know it 🎉

[@LinaMarkelyte]

nadir

[@vincentj.martinez8611]

Macron smart?

[@peterk4134]

Whatever happened to the design arrogance of picking up crumpled paper from the wastebasket. Like Zaha, he blows up this ‘follie “, and stuffs a user program into it , whether it works or not

[@bernadethbautista547]

Who else came here bc of Llyan Austria?

[@RandallYoung-ir9oy]

This that??? This this this this course this ex course ex maybe watch again this this this pace ele 20:41 elevation or ???? Megastructures

[@imyourrealdad.6071]

I had to turn it off when he started talking politics.

[@Normanabutler1]

yea....don't you just hate it when the truth hurts?

[@martymountebank5995]

His architecture is sick. He should work in horror films making sets for Hammer Films.

[@4WDIESEL1]

this is not architecture, it is sculpting. what has done is made a name for himself and only himself. architecture is related to the human scale and human feelings.

[@Frisenette]

You don’t know the first thing about architecture or Gehry. Have a look at his early stuff, up to now. Read Venturis books. Read Ruskins Sevens Lamps of Architecture and Stones of Venice, for a good introduction to architecture criticism. And what all of it has to relate to, to this day, directly or indirectly.

[@Normanabutler1]

and you want to tell me that these buildings don't make you feel things?

[@divasbraidz]

Make me feel like life or his life is chaotic

[@divasbraidz]

He must be a godless man making buildings like that

[@jonsonronson7270]

@@Normanabutler1 i feel annoyed at such a waste of materials.

[@felixdatche9278]

Bringing in the Liberalist politics just almost ruined it. Even Frank has to know not everyone agrees with his ways and designs but all who love this architecture respects his work and contributions to the dialogue of humanity. Trump is obviously not ZERO and Macron is also not any angel. They are politicians and then their times will pass.

[@itgeltbayan]

hahahahahahaahahahaah trunt. o.k. boomer

[@abdallamostafa7989]

Trump is stupid

[@yassermoran8196]

great architect but his politics are trash

[@Toadyru]

The beauty of a city landscape isn't enriched with a Frank Genhry building. No....Frank's building amounts to .......DUNG SMEARED all over the city skyline.

[@andrewmakin8151]

be kind lee. look for the good. he intends no harm, he really has done no hard, he only intends good, the best of him and the best of us. find that in yourself and you might feel the gentleness he appears to embody. it does not need to be what you prefer, or think is optimal, but his work is an expression of his imagination, his life, a deep part of being a human, that human, him.

[@jonsonronson7270]

@@andrewmakin8151 buildings shouldnt be the playground of experimental artists and elites. why is it that his building was built and no one elses? modern architecture is cursed by gehry as this idea of one off monuments to ugly design are what people like and want. A building is for and should reflect the people that have to look at it and work around it everyday, they should decide what is built because they would never choose a modern bland ,empty design like his . pretending pre 1940s architecture could never be built again and beauty was irrelevant in design was purposeful as it saved costs of contruction at the cost of attractive city scapes.

[@2plus2equals59]

*That German interviewer acting like American is irritating*

[@johnnylee8194]

There are architects like this guy Gehry, Eric Owen Moss... who are on extreme end of discipline that tries to make buildings into art objects for their shameless vanity and just to be different. Their work will not be influential. It is noteworthy only to those uneducated and have "look at me!" personalities. Serious serial exhibitionists.

[@jonsonronson7270]

I know , its bland , soulless design is in every new building, no ornamentation or balance , symmetry or style.

[@stim_7203]

im so mad that i have to watch this for my art class >:(

[@inserttext7415]

why its useful

[@stim_7203]

@@inserttext7415 no its not i have to listen to this guy ramble for half a hour

[@nippo7459]

Same but I liked listening to it tbh

[@edmundtagle5276]

You're so mad because you can't do thesame as he can? Being iconic??

[@jackpeters4930]

Wow bro your life’s so hard omg u have to watch a video 🤧🤧

[@martymountebank5995]

His kind of joke architecture should be kept in Disneyland.

[@ndf8746]

And who are you ?

[@martymountebank5995]

Who’s asking? Some fool who likes horrific and comic architecture? What will this fool do next a replica of the Twin Towers all mashed up.

[@katherinecooper9268]

@Marty Mountebank. Shame on you Mr. Mountebank,did you not read to keep the comments respectful. What a fool you have made of yourself. I feel sorry for you. I suppose you are one of those that doesn't think the law pertains to them either. What a sad life.

[@harperwelch5147]

Somehow I doubt you have experienced his architecture. Have you walked around and through the Disney Center in Los Angeles? If not, then in all fairness, you’re not qualified to criticize his work.

[@elg1gy]

Your mic is way too sensitive. Probably you're choice, but it really sucks!! Try to interview an architect in a somehow normal way, and not in this typically way.

[@DaveRCollins1]

"it really sucks." So elegant.

[@DonerPro939]

Great interview

[@durkasree1080]

Yes

[@durkasree1080]

Yes

[@durkasree1080]

Yes