Life and Work of Frank Gehry

Life and Work of blackguard GehryMany of Frank Gehrys early whole kit devise a refined manipulation of physiques and structures, whereby umteen of his buildings present reprobate shapes or app arnt structures. From the Guggenheim m drillum to the Walt Disney c formerlyrt h either, Frank Gehrys computer computer architecture is close to n iodine. He cl invariablyly plays with shapes and geometries. In this essay, I shall start with a brief epitome of Gehrys hold and the influences in the design of the hold. I shall then analyze the consummation to which Frank Lloyd Wright has inspired and influenced Gehry in the design of his house through a comparison with Frank Lloyd Wrights Jacobs house.Gehry draws his inspiration from famous flicks much(prenominal) as the bloody shame and Child which he qualifies as a strategy for architecture (Friedman M., 2003, p. 42) and which he used as an inspiration for a project in Mexico. by dint of his interpretation of the paintings and art work, Gehry looked for a innovative kind of architecture. His search for a bracing type of architecture culminated in 1978 with his induce house in Santa Monica. What was once a traditional Californian house would be redesigned to become one of the some important and revolutionary designs of the 20th century, giving Gehry international prestige and fame. Frank Gehrys suffer brook uses a mixture of corrugated coat, plywood, cooking stove link and asphalt to construct a refreshing envelope for an existent typical Californian house. This house has been inspired by Joseph Cornell, Ed Moses and go after Rauschenberg. Gehry comments on his house by saying that there was something magical (Friedman M., 2003, p. 54) active it. He admits having followed the end of his my nose (Friedman M., 2003, p. 54) when it came to constructing the freshly house, which led Arthur Drexler, former coach from the De splitment of Architecture and Design at the museum of Modern Art in New York, t o actually describe the house as a joke. (Friedman M., 2003, p. 54) with his work, Frank Gehry merchant ship be considered as an artist sort of than an architect. His own house is one of the best works of art he has ever produced. In many of Gehrys early works such as the Danziger building, we bring out closely his worry of the translation of fancys through the many people tough in the process of do a bulding (Friedman M., 2003, p. 44), which according to him drain the faculty and power out of an image (Friedman M., 2003, p. 44) but in his Own habitation however, he proves us that his worry only bring ups his images and designs more powerful. He makes use of large openings, peculiar wall cladding or large illuminate rooms as well as visible structure frames to reflect the post modern-day style of the house as well as to conduct his wish to bring architecture to its roots, to its b ar beauty.What Gehry loves about architecture and what is reflected in the style of hi s Own House is the humanity of it (Friedman M., 2003, p. 42). The barricading of the gaga house reminds us of artists such as Christo and Jeanne Claude with the Rheimstag wrapping while the angled protrusions and cuts through the old house shows Gordon Matta Clarks influence in the style of the Own House. Gehry says in an call into question that his desire to use admixture as a primary face material came with Donna ONeills hay barn, for which he used metal because he could like a shot make a very tough sculptural shape (Friedman M., 2003, p. 45), making the building fit the site hence creating a sculptural identity element (Friedman M., 2003, p. 45).Just like for the titanium-clad faade of the Guggenheim museum, Gehry makes use of metal cladding for his Own House. He builds walls around the old house using corrugated sheets of metal and mountain chain link. Gehry justifies his use of chain link by saying The chain link for me was about denial. There was so much denial about it. I couldnt believe it. (Friedman M., 2003, p. 47) He explains how modern interior(prenominal) design for him is all about challenging the culture, using cheap, recycled materials and transforming them into a work of art. (Friedman, 2003) The use of metal to create sunrise(prenominal) shapes for buildings, such as for the California Aero set Museum, Los Angeles, 1984 or the University of Toledo center for the Visual Arts, 1992 prove how Gehrys vision was beyond that of architects of his time. He admits that A number of artist friends have influenced (Friedman M., 2003, p. 43) his work and that architecture is reflected in a painting the materials used, the texture utilise or the theme of the painting but he too expresses a great admiration for the works of his modern predecessors such as Frank Lloyd Wright or Le Corbusier.As mentioned before, Gehry was inspired by many modern architects, viz. Frank Lloyd Wright. Gehry is referred to as a postmodern architect, applying mode rnism of the 20th century to his buildings all while challenging the conventions of that time. Frank Lloyd Wright is certainly a pioneer of modernism. To him we owe the liking of organic architecture, buildings on L, X, or T shaped grounds. Wright once state To thus make of a human dwelling-place a complete work of artthis is the statuesque modern American opportunity in Architecture. (Humphries, 1970, p. 25) We notice how his vision of architecture resembles that of Gehry, with the reference to art. Nevertheless, the planning of Wrights houses with his idea of form following function contrasts with Gehrys idea of free plan. Still, the idea of using cheap materials for the Gehry house is a dj vu of Wrights wish to cure this defect with houses that were simpler and more economical to build, that unite living and eat field of operations into one and separated them from a bedroom zone, and that in the long run turned the blocky walls into windows on record (Maddex, 2000, p. 80) b asically, Wrights Usonian project. Wright wanted to build small, virtuoso storey, flat-roofed affordable houses which would make the tend as a main part of the house and create a new type of dwelling and life-time-style for the Americans. He wanted to make housing more affordable and vigor efficient. The Usonian project is a development that started with Wrights transformation of the isobilateral, cruciform and pinwheel Prairie House plan into the courtyard plan. (Carter, 2001, p. 250)Hence, Wright saw the Usonian Houses as asymmetrical quadrants of the bigger symmetrical Prairie Houses. (Carter, 2001, p. 249)Perhaps one of the most famous Usonian houses by Wright is the Jacobs house, presenting an L shape plan as well as the idea of pleasant geometry, hence the very rectangular and strict edges of the house. Wrights plans of the offshoot Jacobs house reveal adequately his vision of the Usonian houses. Hence, from his plans, we see how the garden is the geometric centre of th e plan and the point of the spatial arrangement. The idea behind the layout of the spaces in Gehrys house reflects that of Wright in Jacobs house. Hence, in the Jacobs house, the two wings of the house be well planned so as to differentiate between the man and nonpublic aras of the house. There are two entrances into the house one leading to the private quarters, the bedrooms, and the separate one to the living room and dining area on which the kitchen opens. The dining area is used as a transition between the private and common areas of the Jacobs house. To further differentiate between the nature of the different spaces, Wright uses brick wall cladding within the living room and the entrance to indicate the public nature of these spaces. We can also await ourselves whether Wright has not influenced Gehry in the addition of the many windows and openings in his Own house. Wrights idea of architectural purism and organic architecture preach a relationship between agriculture and architecture The American adorn was for Wright unique and in need of integration into American daily domestic life (Carter, 2001) We note how Wright makes the garden the most important space in the house. When we look at the Jacobs house from the way, the view is not inspiring we do not feel the warmth of the house. The street view offers a tone down empty front yard with no indication of how to enter the house except from the carport. If we compare this to the garden view, we immediately feel as if we are in the house. The garden view provides floor to ceiling windows, Jacobs house street view p.254 (Carter, 2001)which enable us to see the on goings of the inhabitants inside the house. Similarly, the house becomes a mere object in the landscape. We instantly understand that Wright wants to describe our focus towards the most important member of the house, the garden. We observe how by adding new walls to the existing building, Gehry incorporates the surroundings into the ho use, creating a new space to contain the public/service areas of the house.Other than the relationship between the house and its surroundings, Gehry has also applied Wrights Beaux arts planning with the idea of the raised floor level as well as the power structure of the spaces. Hence, in the Jacobs house, Wright has created a certain hierarchy of spaces with a geometric module governing horizontal and vertical spaces (Maddex, 2000, p. 82). A large open area is dedicated to the living room and the kitchen. As we enter the Jacobs house, we are oriented towards the garden by the glass doors. Similarly, the dining room is projected (Carter, 2001, p. 254) into the garden by horizontal wood walls with gamy windows which allow people standing in the kitchen to see into the garden. The public areas are all oriented towards the garden, creating an open space as we walk into the house. The grasp bedroom is clearly set apart by the bending corridor which leads to the private areas of the ho use. In Gehrys Own house, he uses the same principle, with the entrance leading straightway onto the living area which is raised above ground level. The public areas namely the kitchen, dining room and living room are all situated on the right while the bedrooms are on the left, well sequestrate by walls. We highlight how the dining room and the kitchen are twain rigid on the lower level, again creating this idea of hierarchy planning of spaces. We also point out Frank Lloyd Wrights idea of employment forms and symmetry that is reflected in Gehry house design. The Jacobs house presents itself in an L shape, which if we think of it, is barely the involvement of two rectangles at 90. All the spaces in the Jacobs house are also connected at right angles. This same scheme of interlocking forms is clearly visible in the Gehry house with the notable glass pulley-block that hangs on top of the kitchen acting as a strong inauguration of intrinsic light which again puts a lot of em phasis on Wrights notion of organic Gehrys Own house, kitchen view,design, using the maximum amount of natural resources from the surroundings for use in the house.As mentioned above, Gehry states that his choice of materials only results from their workability (for metal) or their personal significance (for chain link) but we can question that and ask ourselves how far was the choice of materials for his own house influenced by Frank Lloyd Wrights idea that from standardized materials, economy (Maddex, 2000, p. 82). Wright once said The sense of interior space as a reality in organic architecture co-ordinates with the exaggerated means of modern materials (Humphries, 1970, p. 124). For Wright, the materials used had a connection to country. In the Jacobs house, Wright do use of a lot of wood and glass to create a comfy and warm atmosphere as well as a connection with the surroundings. He used modern materials which he believed could evoke the idea of empathy through his buildings . The low proportions of the Jacobs house oriented the house horizontally rather than vertically and Wright saw the horizontal communication channel as the true earth line of human life, indicative of freedom. (Carter, 2001, p. 255). To him, the horizontal planes of the house helped convey the idea of empathy. Hence the planes parallel to the earth in buildings identify themselves with the ground, do most to make the buildings belong to the ground and represent the true foundation for life within the house. (Carter, 2001, p. 255)Wrights notion of modernism has with no doubt pushed Gehry towards creating a new kind of architecture. When we compare how both architects interpret modern architecture, we understand clean easily how much of an influence Frank Lloyd Wright has had on Gehry. Wright said In organic architecture the hard straight line breaks to the dotted line where stark necessity ends and thus allows appropriate rhythm to enter in order to leave suggestion its proper valu es. This is modern. (Humphries, 1970, p. 125) When we read this quote, we find that it plumb relates to Gehrys idea of deconstructivism in his own house, whereby there is a fragmentation in the design of the house. Frank Gehry has a different approach to modern domestic design. Wright wanted modern human dwellings to have earth as a great human good and make the garden be the building as much as the building will be the garden Both Wright and Gehry have been influenced by the Japanese culture. The construction of the Jacobs house is said to be related to the traditional Japanese house and the four pristine elements that Gottfried Semper identified in 1852 earthwork, hearth, framework and roof and a screen-like infill wall. Wright combined the first two elements (earthwork and hearth) by passing pipes into the concrete flooring that would carry steamer or hot water so that the floor would become a source of heat. The heating of the Jacobs house coincided with Wrights wish to use n atural brightness level hence the south facing glass doors provided the house with heat during winter. This do the Usonian houses extremely energy efficient long before this was an issue for other architects (Carter, 2001, p. 255)Having compared Wrights Jacobs house to Gehrys own house, we can justly say that Gehry was influenced by art. So much that we can refer to him as an artist rather than an architect. His chase in paintings and sculptures has given him the opportunity to design buildings that would change the course of architecture for the future years to come. Gehry has also applied some of Frank Lloyd Wrights principles to his designs. The finale to which this influence can be measured is unsure but a parallel comparison between the Jacobs house and Gehrys own house has allowed us to conclude that Wrights principals of Beaux arts planning, interlocking forms, organic architecture and symmetry can be found in Gehrys own house. Frank Gehry has taken the principles of mode rn architecture from his predecessors and applied it to his designs with his own twist of magic. He uses Wrights concepts and ideas to create new design conventions for himself. Through his designs, Gehry wishes to challenge the ordinary. He is said to have founded the new wave of Californian architects. Frank Lloyd Wright, on the other hand is considered as one of the founders of modern architecture but what is certain is that they have both had a tremendous influence on the world of architecture today.