Frank Gehry: An Architectural Life on ABC TV

Frank Gehry: An Architectural Life

08 Feb 2011, 11:00

Frank Gehry is not your average architect. He has a history of creating bold, innovative and often controversial buildings that stand out…such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which transformed the town it was built in but had some Spaniards wanting to lynch him.

Recently, Frank Gehry visited Sydney to unveil the designs for his first Australian project, a new building for the University of Technology, Sydney. Whilst he was in Australia, he sat down to talk with the ABC’s Geraldine Doogue about architecture, the reaction to some of his most iconic buildings, inspiration, negotiating with clients and something that keeps every architect up at night…budgets.

Gehry also talks about the thinking behind his latest commission for UTS, slated for construction in 2012. The building is named after Dr Chau Chak Wing, an Australia-Chinese businessman who has donated over $20 million towards the project.

Frank Gehry, born in Canada in 1929, is a world renowned architect based in Los Angeles. He is best known for major projects such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, the Dancing House in Prague, and many more. His architectural firm Gehry Partners currently employs over 120 people. In 1989, Gehry was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. In 2005, he was the subject of a documentary made by filmmaker Sydney Pollack, “Sketches of Frank Gehry”.

Geraldine Doogue is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. She is the presenter of the weekend breakfast radio program “Saturday Extra” on Radio National. She is also the host of ABC television program “Compass”.