Frank Gehry

Published in conjunction with the exhibition Frank Gehry, held last year at the -Pompidou Center in Paris, and ahead of the show later this year at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, this handsomely produced catalog, edited by Migayrou (head, architecture dept. Ctr. Pompidou) and Lemonier (curator, Ctr. Pompidou), presents the comprehensive and ambitious range of the visionary architect's evolution. By pioneering aeronautical computer--assisted design, Gehry's firm was able to construct his masterful Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which had a transformative effect on the city's economy and inspired other metropolises to appreciate the avant-garde architecture's ability to attract tourism. This book recognizes Gehry's important role in contemporary architecture, as it chronologically and thematically traces his career from his earliest projects to residential homes that were never built. Major designs are illustrated with drawings and photographs as well as brief, albeit insightful narratives. VERDICT Lavishly illustrated, with a comprehensive bibliography and scholarly essays by the editors as well as a fascinating interview with Gehry (b. 1929), in which he discusses the origins and inspirations for his work, this is an essential addition to any architecture collection. Students and admirers of Gehry will want to add this to their own collections as well.-Herbert E. Shapiro, Lifelong Learning Soc., Florida Atlantic Univ., Boca Raton © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.