Frank Gehry, the acclaimed Canadian-American architect known for his innovative and unconventional designs, has died at the age of 96. He passed away on Friday at his home in Santa Monica, California, following a brief respiratory illness. Meaghan Lloyd, his chief of staff, confirmed the news.

Gehry was celebrated for his deconstructivist style, which often featured bold, curvilinear forms and unique materials. His most famous work, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Completed in 1997, the museum's titanium, limestone, and glass structure is noted for its sculptural quality and dynamic appearance, which helped revitalize the city of Bilbao and sparked what is known as the "Bilbao effect"—a trend of cities commissioning iconic buildings to boost tourism and economic growth.

Throughout his career, which spanned over 50 years, Gehry completed more than 150 projects worldwide. His other notable works include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, which opened in 2003, features a striking stainless-steel exterior and an acoustically advanced interior, earning Gehry the title of a "starchitect"—a term used to describe architects who achieve celebrity status.

Born Ephraim Owen Goldberg on February 28, 1929, in Toronto, Gehry was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1947, where he later studied architecture at the University of Southern California and briefly at Harvard University. Gehry's early career included designing furniture and experimenting with unconventional materials, which laid the groundwork for his later architectural innovations.

Gehry's work often drew inspiration from his artistic background, and he maintained a commitment to hand-drawn sketches as the starting point for his designs, despite embracing new technologies like computer-aided design. He believed that architecture and art were intertwined, stating, "People ask me if I’m an artist or an architect. But I think they’re the same."

In addition to his architectural achievements, Gehry was recognized with numerous awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1989 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. He was also awarded the Order of Canada in 2002 for his contributions to architecture.

Gehry is survived by his wife, Berta, and four children from his two marriages. His legacy will continue to influence architects and designers around the world, as his work transformed the landscape of modern architecture and inspired a new generation of creators.