Architect Frank Gehry is a visionary; his use of lines, curves, and metallic materials in design are emblematic of his harmonious style. From the impact of the titanium rich Guggenheim Bilbao Spain, to the subtle twist in design of residential skyscraper New York by Gehry at 8 Spruce Street, his designs challenge our perspective on architecture’s relationship to culture, tourism, art, space, and living.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was designed by Gehry.
In 1987, the late Lillian Disney made an initial gift of $50 million to build a world-class performance venue as a gift to the people of Los Angeles and a tribute to Walt Disney’s devotion to the arts. Since then, other gifts and accumulated interest bring the Disney family’s total contribution to over $100 million. (source: laphil.com)
Nudging past better known architects including Gottfried Bohm, James Stirling, and Hans Hollein, Gehry won the competition to design this prestigious building. He presented his design in 1991, construction began in 1999, and the Concert Hall finally opened in 2003. The project had its fair share of challenges; lack of funding, design disagreements, construction delays, and cost overruns pushed back the timeline.
Construction of the concert hall itself stalled from 1994 to 1996 due to lack of fundraising. Additional funds were required since the construction cost of the final project far exceeded the original budget. Plans were revised, and in a cost-saving move the originally designed stone exterior was replaced with a less costly metal skin. Upon completion in 2003, the project cost an estimated $274 million. (source: wikipedia)
Though we’ll never know how the original design would have fared, I am confident in saying that the stainless steel structure of today will stand the test of time. Here’s a tour of the Hall’s exterior. Enjoy!
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“‘Wow! Did I do that? Holy shit! Did I do that?’ Sometimes you look at it that way,” Gehry says, taking in the flowing ribbons of steel at street level and then gazing up at the luffing “mainsails” at the center of the building—forms which seem to defy engineering, and which were conceived by Gehry as squiggly lines on a piece of paper …*
Located in LA’s downtown on South Grand Avenue, Walt Disney Concert Hall dominates as the fourth Hall of the Los Angeles Music Centre.
Frank Gehry was born in Toronto, Canada though Los Angeles is the city he has lived and worked in since 1947. The Walt Disney Concert Hall was his first big LA-based commission; when he and his mother relocated to California, they lived two miles from this site.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall was designed before the Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain (1997), but because it opened much later (2003), it was the Basque museum commission that put Gehry on the radar.
Prior to either commission, Gehry had made his name in the 1970’s in Southern California with what he called “cheapskate” architecture; a mixture of high concept with cheap materials–chain link fencing, corrugated metal, pressed plywood–that labeled his work “populist,” which generally means brainy but cheap.**
I recently read that when Gehry presented a then ninety year old Lillian Disney, widow of Walt Disney, with his modern, spiraling designs – which he had developed with the help of software used to design fighter planes – she was left baffled.
To convey what he had in mind, he brought her a white rose floating in a bowl of water, an image that captured both her love of flowers and the sailing ships that are his favorite way of explaining the place he eventually built. The Disney Hall, he says, “is a boat where the wind is behind you.”***
Suffice to say, he gained Lillian Disney’s confidence; unfortunately, she didn’t live to see the beautiful result.
Away from the street, the Blue Ribbon Garden rests behind the Hall. A gift from the individual members of the Blue Ribbon – an organisation of women devoted to the support of the Music Centre and its resident companies – it is juxtaposed against a building that took more than a decade of struggle to build.
Gehry has been quoted as saying:
A lot of gray hairs on this one. Very emotional. Up and down—a lot of funny people involved. You know, it’s hard to imagine, but when it all fell apart, everybody blamed the architect. It was hard. Because it was thought to have been too difficult, too expensive. Well, it was difficult. And we knew how to build it—they didn’t. They are a big, amorphous group of lawyers and money people and architects, construction companies, county officials, city officials.*
Mishandling and misunderstanding of his design by the project team accompanied by massive overrun costs had Gehry threatening to take his name off the building if the Hall wasn’t constructed to meet his specs.
Finally constructed in 2003, Matrix Revolutions held its world premiere in the Hall of that year; it was the first movie premiere ever held there.
The troubles didn’t end after the construction, however. Due to the highly polished mirror-like panels of the building’s exterior, reflection off of its more concave sections meant neighboring condominiums suffered from excessive heat (and higher air conditioning bills), residents were blinded by the sunlight’s glare, and adjacent sidewalks were singed with hot spots that reached temps of 140 °F (60 °C). In 2005, the ‘guilty’ panels had to be lightly sanded; their matte finish intended to eliminate unwanted glare.
Even before it opened, the Walt Disney Concert Hall was referred to as the iconographic symbol of Los Angeles. As Time magazine described it, the cascading exterior of the building brings to mind Disney’s magic wand sketching silver arcs in the air.
A product of LA’s creative energy, the Walt Disney Concert Hall speaks to the city’s foothold in the entertainment industry. The evidence is in the details; situated across the road from a multilevel parking lot, the building’s location is perhaps symbolic of its contribution to the revival of Los Angeles’ downtown area.
My shining tribute to the Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.
*vanityfair.com
**vanityfair.com and time.com
***time.com
LOVE! Marina, you have outdone yourself with these architectural photographs!
The lighting is gorgeous and your compositions are impeccable. I love each one! Wow,
Thanks for this inspiration.
Karen, thank you!! I did take these a few months ago and have been hoping to share them. I am so happy that you love them! You’ve put a major smile on my face. I’ve very grateful – thanks 🙂
brilliant…I never made it to see it …yet…
I like your style Barbara… yet! But soon 🙂
A remarkable building by a remarkable architect Marina! These are wonderful shots and I agree with Karen above – the light is just amazing! 🙂
I agree, such a beauty of a building. We were there in the late afternoon so I am happy for that now! Thank you so much for your comment. I really was looking forward to sharing these photos. I am so glad I did 🙂
Yes, me too! Looks like I have some catching up to do – was unplugged for 5 days! It’s nice to get back into real life….these photos were a treat! 🙂
I understand liking to get back into the routine 🙂 enjoy getting back in to it! Off to read your post!
Thanks my friend!! 🙂
Marina – I think this is one of your best posts yet. Truly. I love it. Your images are simply amazing and the background you provide makes me want to visit and see this incredible structure in person. It does look like a giant sail to me. Wow! 🙂
Hi Syders – I am so glad you enjoyed this one; I know you love art! And the LA Phil plays inside so could be an idea to organise a trip with some tickets for the next gift giving time (a nice follow up to operatic sheet music!) So happy to give you some inspiration to visit! Have you seen or been to the Guggenheim Bilbao? It’s a similar looking space from the pics I have seen. Also, happy to know that Gehry’s vision of the sails resonates with what you see 🙂 Thank you!
Stunning pictures, all of them, but I really favor the last one. Thanks for the info, too. 🙂
That last image was my experiment, I am so glad you commented on it. Thank you so much, glad you took a enjoyed this post 🙂
Fabulous Marina
Thank you Val!
A very interesting post Marina. Easy to read, full of interesting detail and your photographs illustrating the piece are excellent. Great stuff. 🙂
Thanks Adrian! Really happy that you liked this post. It’s such a lovely building and I finally managed to share the photos!
Marina, these images are simply stunning, my favourite is the one with the winding path between the two walls just above where you talk about Lillian Disney. I also like the one with the flower and person dressed in green. Some great composition and another engrossing read, bravo! Andy
Thanks so much Andy! That is such a deceiving pathway isn’t it, but there was plenty of space all the way round. I am so glad you enjoyed this post – it’s lovely to read your comment 🙂
Really interesting post and fab fab fab fotos…….
And I’ve learned something about myself…According to Vanity Fair and Time I could be considered ‘populist’…….(well, I’m cheap anyway).
🙂
Thanks Mr Brainy, love your comment in reference to populist. Glad you liked the photos, and thank you. No tripod with these ones – maybe next time though!
I’m such a fan of Gehry yet I have never seen such a good set of pics of the Walt Disney building. Amazing conception and wonderful execution – finally:)
Thanks Roger, that’s a comment I’ll be treasuring 🙂 Thank you, it means alot 🙂
What an impressive building that is, a piece of art definitely and sooo expensive 🙂 I especially love the picture #5 and also the last picure 🙂
Yes, a pricey artwork! Well put Kristina 🙂 I overexposed that last image and so glad you like it – I tried to make the building shine 🙂 Thank you!
Great to see this through your eyes; one of the most amazing architectural creations I’ve ever seen! Love the garden thats hardly seeable from the street but is beautifully encaptured in the building. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Rondje, it is beautiful and thanks for your comment. Have you seen the Guggenheim in Bilbao? The garden is so peaceful and from there, you can catch a lovely view of the mountains in the background.
Hola,
No, haven’t been there, always got stuck in San Sebastian cuz of the great food 🙂
But Bilbao’s Guggenheim is still high on the lsit for a visit for sure, and I’ve seen a bit of those green Basque hills…
have a great sunday!
Since being mesmerized by Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, I have been intrigued by his architecture and the fascinating way he designs the buildings. I loved seeing your beautiful photos…..one day I hope to see the Concert Hall!
Hi Jenny! Gehry does have that way of taking things to the next level but making the extravagant design look timeless. You will visit, and maybe see the LA Phil too 🙂 Thanks for taking a sneak peak 🙂
Very nice.
It’s a lovely building Karen – thank you!
Gorgeous structure! I love the Guggenheim in NY too!
It’s a beauty! Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim design in NY is lovely too.
Hey you beat me to it. i have a bunch of shots of the Disney Concert Hall waiting to post…. yours are very nice, it’s such an astonishing building.
Hi, it’s a really interesting building that I am sure can be taken so many different ways, especially in different lights. Thanks – look forward to seeing your photos.
I love modern architecture and you captured it beautifully!
Thanks so much Karen! I wonder what the building would look like in the morning – with the lights and the metal shine.
Very futuristic..It should look like a tube of tin foil randomly unfurled but it doesn’t. Great pictures too!
I totally understand what you mean – good analogy! Thank you!
I’ve only seen photos of this building, but I’ve always been fascinated with its design. Thanks for the additional information and great photos to educate us!
My pleasure fergiemoto, for sharing. To be honest, I cannot wait to go back and go inside as the interior had its challenges in design, being home to the LA Phil. Until then, Gehry continues to inspire! Thanks!
I have been to the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and yes, it is amazing! Now, I haven’t been to this one yet but for your images it looks another wonderful design from this fantastic architect.
Great shots Marina!
Thanks so much Alicia! I appreciate your lovely comment. Do you see a similarity with it and the Bilbao museum?
Oops, I pressed send too quickly! Meant to say that my little purple profile pic next to this comment was taken outside the Bilbao Guggenheim. You can see the curves and metal plates in the background.
Wow, that’s so cool! Have you posted your Bilbao photos? I’d like to take a look at them!
Will do! You gave me some inspiration Marina. I’ve been away from my blog for so long feeling like I didn’t have anything exciting to share. Will look for those images. Txs so much Marina!
great stuff! so looking forward to seeing the building. It’s on my bucket list!
Yes – very similar in the material and the curves
Hi Marina,
Was enjoying your images of the Gehry’s Walt disney hall,
I took a whole series of pics of this amazing creation : Pictify.com/user/ilanashkenazi
I had an idea which I’d like to discuss with you concerning our images.
Please contact me at ilanashkenazi@gmail.com
Thanks,
Thank you! Sure, what’s your idea? 🙂
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