Frank Gehry, one of the world’s most innovative architects, dies aged 96 | World News

Frank Gehry, who won global acclaim for designing some of the world’s most imaginative buildings has died aged 96.

His triumphs included the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Berlin’s DZ Bank Building.

During his lifetime he was awarded every major prize architecture, including the field’s top honour, the Pritzker Prize, for what was described as “refreshingly original and totally American” work.

Gehry died at his home in Santa Monica following a short period of respiratory illness, Meaghan Lloyd, his chief of staff said.

As a child he enjoyed art and constructing model cities, but Gehry said it was not until the age of twenty he considered having a career in architecture, after a college teacher identified his gift.

“It was like the first thing in my life that I’d done well in,” he said.

He went on to study architecture at the University of Southern California in 1954 where he later became a professor. He also taught at Yale and Columbia University.

In 2005 Gehry appeared in an episode of The Simpsons cartoon series as himself, in which he agreed to design a concert hall that was later converted into a prison.

He came up with the idea for the design, which looked a lot like the Disney Hall, after crumpling Marge Simpson’s letter to him and throwing it on the ground.

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After taking a look at it, he declared: “Frank Gehry, you’ve done it again!”

He is survived by his wife, Berta; daughter, Brina; sons Alejandro and Samuel. Another daughter, Leslie Gehry Brenner, died of cancer in 2008.