Assn2: Case Study - Frank Gehry, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hotel Los Angeles, California 1989-

In 1987, Lillian Disney donated fifty million dollars in reminiscence of her husband Walt Disney to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in relation to designing a concert hall. Frank Gehry was the chosen architect as he demonstrated the concepts of interpreting the Los Angeles culture and identity and to mimic that through the building.

The Brief of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hotel contained three specific concepts which include:

1. Provide the best possible acoustical environment for the orchestra

2. Create a visionary building reflecting the culture, character and climate of Los Angeles

3. Create a powerful relationship between the new building” 1

These were the main briefs that Gehry was able to adapt to and then represent through his sketches. The panel of judges thought that Gehry’s design resembles the brief to its potential and elaborated on the modernistic approach and identity visualisations for the Los Angeles community.

“The hall’s interior architecture produced a form resembling a saddle from the outside.” 2 In relation to the interior Gehry’s thought was replicated in the above quote to display the concepts and ideas of the changing of the interior concepts. Frank Gehry explored the ideas of the Walt Disney Concert Hall “was designed from the inside out”. 3

In relation Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hotel in Los Angeles Frank Gehry has once again pushed the boundaries on the architectural and engineering aspects and then to implement the perspectives that can related to the cultural and identity of the Los Angeles community.

References:

1. K. Foster, Frank O.Gehry the Complete Works, Phaidon Press, New York, 1998, pg 442 (Viewed on 28/09/2010)

2. Ibid, pg 452 (Viewed on 28/09/2010)

3. C. Leigh, Artifice Inc, 2003, “Gehry's Disney Concert Hall”, Architecture Week, http://www.architectureweek.com/2003/1217/design_1-2.html (Viewed on 28/09/2010)