Three Questions for Frank Gehry

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry recently gave a talk at DS Campus and I had the pleasure to meet him. Actually, I wasn’t supposed to meet him, but I finagled my way up to him after the presentation and got an on-the-fly video interview for 3D Perspectives.

I wanted to ask him:

1. Is 3D a universal language?
2. What does Innovation mean?
3. What’s the future of Architecture?

Check out the below video to hear what he has to say. I was pretty impressed that he gave such spontaneously profound answers, especially since we were immersed in post-presentation madness (as you’ll hear in the video).

Note: Once I started filming I realized I should have escorted Mr. Gehry to a quieter spot, but as I was seizing the moment and not on his packed agenda, I was afraid I’d miss the opportunity. Soooo, please read the transcribed interview below If you weren’t able to hear everything Mr. Gehry said. (sorry, I couldn’t find an ‘add subtitles’ option to Windows Movie Maker, but hey, you get both: transcription and the video.)



Transcribed questions and answers from the video 3 Questions for Frank Gehry:

Q1: Can you tell me if you believe in 3D is a universal language?

A: Well I make buildings that are 3D, so I do. I believe that the articulation of 3D objects, that’s buildings and everything else made through the computer and software is a revolution of our time and is clearly just beginning to be understood.

Q2: Can you tell me what Innovation means to you?

A: Innovation means that in real-time you can respond to the changes that are happening around you, ecologically, politically, technologically. On a daily basis there are people developing methods that are related to place and time, and innovation in the ability to respond to that. And it’s new because it’s responding to new. It’s responding to change, and so it is change. And I think that’s innovation– a different way of looking at the world, because the world is different.

Q3: What is the future of architecture?

A: Well architecture as a profession has been around for centuries. As long as there’s population growth, as long as there’s population movement across the planet, as long as the planet exists (which could be problematic right now), I think architecture has a role. Now if the planet starts to disintegrate, architecture will have a role in the new worlds we have to travel to if that’s possible, I don’t know. I’m turning 80 this month, so I don’t know. I’m excited about the future. I think the young people I work with are very positive, optimistic. They’re not giving up. They don’t get threatened. They don’t stop because things are difficult. So I think architecture will always be around.

P.S. Merci Sebastien for the photo!