The Master of DeCon
Growing up in a Polish-Jewish family in Toronto, Ontario during the 40s taught Ephraim Owen Goldberg that creativity could come to life, using almost anything. Scraps of wood, pieces of corrugated steel and leftover chain link fences worked nicely for the would-be architect. Known today as Pritzker Prizewinner, Frank Owen Gehry, his work continues to fascinate the world in dramatic, influential designs of buildings and modern designer furniture.
Gehrys architectural designs have received harsh criticism from designers who see his work as overshadowing a buildings intended use with an overwhelming nature. Others applaud the fresh, non-traditional role that a Gehry building offers to society and welcome his methods with awards and embrace his role as Distinguished Professor of Architecture at Columbia University and the Yale School of Architecture. He continues to receive many national, regional and local A.I.A. awards, in addition to the Pritzker Prize in 1989.
Gehry doesn’t spend all of his time on designing structurally radical landmarks but also enjoys smaller designs with sculpture, household items, jewelry and furniture. Heller furniture features the Frank Gehry line of furniture that Gehry has designed for simplicity, comfort and fun, indoors or out. This is not the first line that has been presented by the architectural icon but one that stands out as lasting.
Massive architectural designs by Gehry are located all over the world. A few of his outstanding creations include Dancing House in Prague, Czech Republic, Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilbao, Spain. Seeming never to rest before beginning yet another unique design, Gehry is currently working on the Performing Arts Complex at the World Trade Center site, New York City and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, PA, among several other international projects.
Frank often refers to his love of sculpting and designing simple modern furniture as his ‘quick fix’ as the work does not require the months and years of intensity in architecture. But this does not diminish the quality or thought that he portrays in every design that he completes. The Gehry furniture collection by Heller proves this by the sleek, pandemic nature of the pieces. Simple in design yet complex in presence, the modular units can stand-alone or be used in dozens of different ways as groupings.
A quiet boy from the 40s proves that imagination can grow into anything obtainable with hard work and structure. Owning a piece of Frank Owen Gehry can never go wrong with the extensive reputation that this man has made for himself and his modern contemporary furniture design.