Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry , known for his distinct, unique design style of buildings all over the world, died Friday at the age of 96.

Gehry died in his home in Santa Monica after a brief respiratory illness, said Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP.

Born Frank Owen Goldberg on Feb. 28, 1929 in Toronto, he showed interest in building things from a very young age. Starting with scraps of wood and eventually graduating to more complex materials from his grandfather’s hardware store, he had a penchant for stylish original design.

His mother instilled a knowledge of art in him, and the two areas meshed together perfectly, leading him to develop a well-rounded approach to architecture.

Gehry and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1947, where he attended City

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