By Jjron – via Wikipedia

Frank Gehry, the illustrious Los Angeles architect famous for designing buildings composed of curves, jagged metal surfaces and broken lines that magically join into graceful, inspiring forms, just turned 90 years old. Still very much active in the field, he credits his well-being to never ceasing to work at what he loves – architecture. Gehry’s career spans decades, and he has produced some amazing structures, some of which we will feature right after this fun fact about Gehry’s practice: he loves fish!

“In Toronto, when I was very young, my grandmother and I used to go to Kensington, a Jewish market, on Thursday morning. She would buy a carp for gefilte fish. She’d put it in the bathtub, fill the bathtub with water, and this big black carp–two or three feet long–would swim around in the bathtub and I would play with it. I would stand up there and watch it turn and twist.”

We can definitely see this fondness in the scaly, shimmery surfaces of many of Gehry’s buildings, and we wonder if we will glimpse it in his upcoming project on the LA River – Los Angeles County hired Gehry to work up a master plan for the restoration and revitalization of the river. We can’t wait to see what Mr. Gehry thinks up – and if you, like us, are a fan of LA River, you should check out CoolidgePlaceLA, a collection of new modern single families just blocks from the water.

Curious to know more about Frank Gehry? Read on to find out about the career journey of this prolific architect and inspiring human.

BP Pedestrian Bridge in Chicago (2004) | Curbed LA

• Born in Toronto on February 28, 1929 to Jewish parents, the architect was given the name of Ephraim Owen Goldberg. Concerned about anti-semitism, the Frank’s first wife insisted on a name change and Goldberg became Gehry.

Biomuseo, the Museum of Biodiversity, in Panama City, Panama (2014)|Curbed LA

• When he was 17 years old, Gehry and his family moved to Los Angeles. After working as a truck driver for a furniture company, Frank studied architecture at Los Angeles City College and the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture. Afterwards, Gehry took a job with Victor Gruen, an Austrian architect that pioneered the design of first pedestrian malls and shopping centers.
• At 30, Gehry enrolled at Harvard University. Upon graduation and after several years of work at various firms, Frank traveled to Paris. There, he worked on restoration of French churches, and in his free time studied the works of Le Corbusier and Balthasar Neumann.
• In 1962, enthusiastic Gehry returned to Los Angeles and opened his studio, Frank O. Gehry and Associates. He designs shops and shopping centers in the style of Gruen. After a few years, the architect decided to take a break from buildings and delved into furniture design.
• For 4 years, Gehry focused on designing corrugated cardboard furniture, having realized that the combination of unusual materials and thoughtful design can produce a sensational effect. The success of his furniture project inspired Gehry, and he returned to architecture in search of his unique style.

Frank Gehry in front of his Santa Monica home | NY Times

• In 1978, Gehry was working on his passion project, his house in Santa Monica – which quickly became overgrown with extensions of irregular shape home of metal grids and corrugated fiberglass. Rumor has it that his neighbors were concerned that the wildly shaped structure would bring down the real estate prices, but history certainly proved them wrong! Gehry was 50, and he was just getting started.

Gehry’s path that took him all over the world and he would leave magnificent buildings in his wake – some with profound economic consequences, his Guggenheim Museum resulting in what came to be known The Bilbao effect, in which “world-class project became the catalyst for reviving this once gritty, economically distressed, post-industrial city”. Gehry’s list of accomplishments is long, but none could speak better about it than himself – learn about his fascinating life by tuning into this NYPL interview from 2009 and catch up with the master with this recent feature by The Guardian.

Frank Gehry photographed at his Los Angeles offices. Photograph: Barry J Holmes/The Observer

Podcasts are increasingly becoming one of the most popular formats of entertainment – you can find one just on every topic these days. Tuning in makes the commute go faster and that voice in your ear effect feels wonderfully personal. In the mood for a good story? You’ll find a bevy of podcasts devoted to fiction and history. Need to catch up on the current affairs? A wealth of pods on the subject are ready to pour into your ear. The list is truly infinite, and we too have a few favorites – all broadcast from and on the topic of our fair city of Los Angeles. We enjoy tuning in to as we drive to our Open Houses and appointments with clients (if you are in need of help with your real estate goals, we are just a click away!), and hope that you will enjoy them too!

Design and Architecture with Frances Anderton

Frances Anderton’s voice is practically synonymous with Los Angeles’ architectural history. A witty and knowledgeable host, she discusses architecture and design in ways that are thoughtful, relatable and entertaining. Born and raised in the UK, Anderton arrived in Los Angeles in 1991, at the time that Los Angeles design community was becoming internationally renown for its  for its experimental qualities, and spent the next two decades covering LA architecture for publications including Dwell, the New York Times, Architect’s Newspaper, and several books.

Here’s a recent episode we really enjoyed, discussing the advances and challenges in 5G connectivity, and the notion of Hip Hop Architecture:

XX|LA Architects Podcast

Here’s an excellent show featuring Los Angeles’ leading women in architecture and discussing the issues relevant to the profession. Hosted by Audrey Sato, AIA, LEED-AP, the show is dedicated to Los Angeles community of feminist architects. Tune it to learn about the achievements of female architects, and hear their stories and insights as they work towards equity in architecture.  A recent episode features Rennie Tang and Sara Wookey, the artists and creators behind Punt.Point, a project that brings together their architecture and dance backgrounds – give it a listen below.

Interview with Rennie Tang and Sara Wookey – XX|LA Episode 019

You Can’t Eat the Sunshine

You Can’t Eat the Sunshine is the podcast of Esotouric, a Los Angeles company that “turns the notion of guided bus tours on its ear” and provides great experiences for those that enjoy a hands on approach to getting to know Los Angeles history. Each month, join Kim Cooper and Richard Schave on their Southern California adventures as they conduct wide-ranging interviews that reveal the myths, contradictions, inspirations and passions of Los Angeles. Tune in to this fun episode to find out about the deep yet forgotten Gallic roots of LA!

You Must Remember This

If you are drawn to the retro charms of the silver screen, this is the perfect podcast to explore the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century. We love the way that author, Karina Longworth, delivers the stories in a tone that is reminiscent of 1930’s radio hosts, and her use of vintage radio clippings – truly making this podcast a time-traveling experience. Check it out in this fascinating episode, which focuses on artist and filmmaker Kenneth Anger’s coverage of Confidential Magazine. We also get to hear about the life of Dorothy Dandridge, the first black actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.

DOROTHY DANDRIDGE AND THE CONFIDENTIAL MAGAZINE TRIAL (FAKE NEWS: FACT CHECKING HOLLYWOOD BABYLON

Hidden History Of Los Angeles

Another splendid historic foray into the hidden gems of L.A., this podcast is a brilliant listen for the fans of Los Angeles history. Host Robert Petersons skillfully delves into the dark side of the life of Griffith Park founder Griffith J. Griffith, takes you to the oldest building in L.A, and explores “L.A. Sounds,” which feature figures from the city’s rich musical history.

Butterfly-Style Roof, a SoCal Icon

If you spent any time in California, you’ve likely noticed an upside-down roof grace the top of many a mid-century modern home. Known as the “butterfly roof”, the style gets its name from its distinct silhouette reminiscent of a butterfly wing in mid-flap. The design was popularized during the post-war period, becoming a staple in American neighborhoods across the South-West, where the butterfly roof design allowed dramatic walls of glass that showcased the natural sunlight.

Stunning Mid-Century Modern Home for Sale in Beachwood Canyon

A Tale of Two Designers

The architect that is frequently credited with developing the butterfly roof design is William Krisel. Active in 1950’s, he is particularly renown for building modern home tracts in Palm Springs, now the site of many of his trademark butterfly roof creations. However, Krisel was not the first architect to come up with this eye-catching soaring feature – that honor goes to the Swiss-French architect and Modernist Pioneer, Le Corbusier, that first designed a home with a butterfly roof in Chile in 1930. Intended to overlook the Pacific Ocean in Zapallar, Maison Errazuriz was unfortunately never constructed.

Sketches of Maison Errazuriz © FLC/ADAGP

Own a Midcentury-Modern Home with a Butterfly Roof

If you are a fan of this special design feature but don’t want to travel all the way to the desert to enjoy it, you need to see this beautiful mid-century modern home, for sale in Hollywood Hills. Nestled at the top of Beachwood Canyon, the residence was designed by notable architect Maurice L. Bein and features a soaring butterfly-style roof and an open layout with walls of glass and easy outdoor flow. A wonderful investment in the heart of scenic Hollywood Hills, the home puts you above the city in an ideal environment for relaxing and entertaining, and close to hiking trails in Griffith Park. Come visit us this Sunday, we would love to show you around!