As the built environment evolves, the role of the architect demands reconsideration. For Jose Siao Ling, Co-Founder and Principal Architect of Jose Siao Ling & Associates (JSLA Architects), the role extends far beyond being a licensed professional who designs and oversees construction. By championing ethical practice, ISO-certified systems, and mentorship-driven leadership, he built a firm […]
Frank Gehry: When Architecture Meets Sculpture
Born in 1929, Frank Gehry is widely considered one of the most influential architects of his generation. Gehry is recognized for his experimentation with form and material, which subsequently defined his architectural vocabulary and enabled him to successfully challenge people’s established expectations of architecture. In the span of his eight-decade career, he has left a lasting impact on modern cities with his distinctive sculptural architectural style. In this article, BluPrint enumerates a selection of his most renowned works.
Gehry Home, Santa Monica
Situated within the intersection of Washington Avenue and 22nd Street, Gehry’s Santa Monica home is a quintessential example of his unique form of architectural expression. Gehry stripped a 1920 Dutch colonial bungalow down to its frame, exposing its original wooden structure. Often considered a deconstructivist architecture, the home utilized unconventional materials.
Gehry altered the residence’s exterior, crafting a contemporary look that contrasted with the existing neighborhood. In his renovation of the interior, he complemented and blended the old and new structural elements. The residence is defined by its use of corrugated steel, smooth glass, and sharply angled wooden frames, including large tilted windows. The architectural exploration demonstrated in his home influenced his subsequent projects throughout the 1980s, simultaneously inspiring numerous other designers.
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Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
Completed in 1997, the Guggenheim Museum is internationally celebrated as one of Gehry’s most significant architectural achievements. Located on the River Nervión, its sculpture-like form seamlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape. Renowned for its flowing and non-Euclidean geometry, it stands tall as a landmark of contemporary design.
Gehry drew inspiration from fish, finding the animal’s expression of movement highly architectural. This inspiration is visible in the free-form, curvaceous design, where the 33,000 thin titanium panels shimmer like a body of water and change color with the light and weather. The building also incorporates limestone and glass, crafting a visually stunning, complex geometry. Housing modern and contemporary art within its dramatic atrium and galleries, the structure itself is considered a work of art, uniting art and architecture.
More than just an art museum, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao spearheaded the redevelopment of Bilbao’s former industrial waterfront into a thriving cultural hub. This act of urban renewal brought significant economic and cultural revival to the local community by creating a space where art is a shared activity.
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Walt Disney Concert Hall, California
Located in Los Angeles, the Walt Disney Concert Hall opened in 2003. Its exterior is defined by a cascade of dynamic, shimmering stainless steel curves that resemble sails or musical motion. This use of materiality and departure from traditional, symmetrical designs transformed the building into an urban sculpture that reflects and reacts to its environment.
Beyond its striking exterior, the hall is celebrated for its exceptional acoustics, achieved through an intimate “vineyard”- style seating arrangement. This places the audience around the central stage, fostering a deep connection with the performers. Meanwhile, the interior features curved wood paneling and a unique, visually integrated organ with dramatically curved pipes—all designed by Yasuhisa Toyota. As such, the structure delivers exceptional clarity and an immersive auditory experience. This seamless blend of architectural technology, sculptural form, and acoustic precision makes the Walt Disney Concert Hall a truly unique and significant cultural landmark.
Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris
The Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris is an architectural landmark defined by billowing glass “sails” over concrete “icebergs.” Situated in the Bois de Boulogne, the structure nods to the travel heritage of the luxury brand while recalling the 19th-century glass grandeur of Parisian architecture, like the Grand Palais.
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The building’s core consists of 3,600 custom-formed, opaque white concrete panels—the “icebergs”—which house the museum’s traditional galleries. Twelve enormous, curved glass “sails” rest on this base, supported by intricate steel and wood frameworks. These reflective sails change with the light, linking the building to the surrounding park.
The Foundation transcends its function as a museum. It also serves as a bold statement on the marriage of luxury, high art, and architectural ambition. Overall, it offers a dynamic cultural destination that stands as a modern masterpiece through its reimagining of architectural forms.
Groundbreaking Legacy
Frank Gehry’s works, sculptural and unconventional, shaped contemporary architecture. In his passing earlier this month, he has left behind an enduring contribution to the discipline of architecture.
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Public spaces in Metro Manila are often defined by movement rather than pause. People in transit hurry through; the underpass is a shortcut, not a place to stop. Underground, the installation by photography group FotomotoPH, reimagined the Paseo Underpass as a visual experience. FotomotoPH is a Philippine-based photography collective dedicated to promoting, exhibiting, and fostering […]
Born and raised in San Pablo City, Laguna, Ito Kish made a name for himself through residential and commercial design, as well as curatorial work. This new season, built on the idea of Filipino Culture Meets Global Curiosity, unfolds both as a composed showroom environment and a new collection shaped by stillness and balance. A […]
Breaking through in their respective careers is a daunting task for any young professional. For Architect Pierre Briones, architecture has always been an intentional pursuit. Having spent much of his childhood around construction sites, Briones’s environment shaped his interest in architecture, including his fascination with how structures and buildings are built. “Choosing architecture was never […]
Not many people know this, but during the Martial Law era, National Artist for Architecture Bobby Mañosa was also a toy designer. He had an iconic line of toys, called “Bobi Toys,” that he sold in Makati during the 1970s and 1980s, which he discontinued as his own kids grew older. His toys have not […]
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