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A dance of light and shadow: Visiting Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall
Ema Bakalova
Nov 25, 2023
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The Walt Disney Concert Hall, a creation of the renowned architect Frank Gehry, transcends the conventional definition of a concert venue. It stands not only as an iconic structure but as a masterpiece embodying innovation and artistic expression. Gehry's daring and avant-garde signature style boldly challenges traditional notions of architecture, crafting a distinctive landmark in the city's skyline. In his vision, this hall goes beyond being a mere performance space; it emerges as a cultural beacon for the city, seamlessly blending form and function.
A symphony in steel
As I approached the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the details came alive—the intricate dance of light and shadow, and the reflective surfaces mirrored the pulse of the city. Like the movements of a musical symphony, the architectural design orchestrates the use of stainless steel in a way that creates a visual melody for the visitors. The deliberate yet free-spirited composition invites viewers to engage in a dialogue with its unconventional form. The architectural expression, a dance of curves and metallic sheen, creates a striking contrast against the backdrop of the urban landscape, representing a bold departure from traditional design norms. The use of flowing lines and curves in the design creates a feeling of energy and vitality. In hopes of capturing the building's unique play of light, shadow, and reflections, I visited the Walt Disney Concert Hall just before sunset.
As the sun dances across the Los Angeles sky, the concert hall undergoes a mesmerizing transformation. The stainless steel panels reflect the southern California sun, creating a dazzling play of light that evolves throughout the day. Accentuating every curve and contour, the building exudes an organic, fluid quality. The interplay of light and shadow on the facade is a visual performance, with reflections that create a dynamic spectacle, adding depth and complexity.
Appreciating Frank Gehry
Gehry's portfolio is full of groundbreaking structures that challenge the status quo, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall is no exception. Gehry sought to make a strong connection between the emotions of the musicians and the audience. He wanted to create a dynamic and positive atmosphere, purposefully designing an environment that prioritized comfort for all attendees.
The context of the concert hall was carefully considered, aiming for harmony with the neighboring structures. Gehry places importance on the relationship between his buildings and their surroundings, ensuring they contribute to and embrace the community. He believed that a building should not vie against or detract from its surroundings. His commitment to inclusiveness in his architectural philosophy resulted in designs that not only complement, but elevate their surroundings. Paradoxically, while the concert hall has a distinctive and standout form, I felt like the building gracefully integrated into its environment, blending well without dominating the downtown area.
“The building’s curvy sheets of brushed steel resembled expanded boat sails billowing in the sea air..
..or, maybe a blooming flower.” –Frank Gehry
A color spectrum
While the primary material is steel, the color palette of the Walt Disney Concert Hall is rich and varied. The building takes on different hues depending on the time of day and the angle of the sun. The warm tones of sunrise and sunset infuse the steel with a golden glow, while during midday, the building may adopt cooler tones. This dynamic color spectrum contributes to the building's multifaceted aesthetic.
Rosy reflections
At the onset of sunset, the Walt Disney Concert Hall often bathes in a warm, golden glow. As the sun progresses further into the horizon, the reflective surfaces of the concert hall adopt a rosy tint.
Individuality in design
Gehry rejects a one-size-fits-all approach to architecture. Instead, he sees each project as an opportunity for unique expression, tailoring his designs to the specific requirements, cultural context, and aspirations of the client and community.
The reflective nature of the stainless steel amplifies the surrounding environment. The cityscape, passing clouds, and the movements of pedestrians become integral parts of the building's exterior. This interaction with the surroundings blurs the lines between the concert hall and the city, fostering a sense of connection and integration. Apparently, the steel facade required sanding a few years back, as the intense glare from the metal surface contributed to several traffic accidents. The issue wouldn't have ever occured if Gehry had been able to realize the initial plan for the building's facade, which involved using stone. Why? “Because stone takes ambient light, street light,” he says. “It’s very subtle and it glows. The stainless steel, if it’s not done right, can look like a cheap refrigerator. And sometimes it does look like that, so I worry about it.” –Frank Gehry. However, the client, swayed by the design of the Bilbao museum, had developed a preference for a metal aesthetic that could not be swayed.
Embracing the curves
Gehry's design embraces curves with a poetic fluidity, challenging the rigidity of traditional architectural forms. The curves create a sense of movement and grace, inviting observers to follow the natural flow of the structure. The varying heights of different sections of the concert hall add layers to the visual composition, creating a sense of rhythm and asymmetry that is both bold and captivating.
Whether it's at a small or large scale, movement always fit's into Gehry's design stories. Everything he does is deliberate. In design, movement is the delicate interplay of shape, color, texture, scale, and touch — a synergy that inspires and creates an emotional connection with the public. Establishing this connection with individuals not only influences their decisions but also encourages them to share their experiences. To achieve this, strategic application of aesthetic principles, coupled with a clear purpose and thoughtful critique, elicits the desired and meaningful responses.
Shape and movement
The overarching themes in Gehry's design approaches revolve around shape and movement, each element contributing to the overall choreography of his designs:
Choreography
This encompasses the masterful orchestration of organic forms, creating an overall design presentation that imparts a vivid sense of movement.
Flow
Addressing the dynamic movement of individuals—both entering and exiting—a Gehry-designed space. The concept of flow extends to the seamless experience of navigating through the architectural environment.
Progress
Channeling the inherent energy of communities or individuals engaged with Gehry's creations. His designs are not static entities but rather catalysts for progress, encouraging positive engagement and development.
Making your way around the building
Los Angeles features numerous buildings designed by Frank Gehry. His career is rooted in the city, with many of his architectural works shaping its landscape.
The concert hall spans an entire city block, but the majority of the building is visible from the East, walking along Grand Street from W 2nd St to W 1st Street. On this side of the street, the building asserts a strong presence, accompanying you along the entire sidewalk. However, as you walk around, nuanced details emerge that cater to the human scale, fostering a more relatable connection to the overall magnitude of the structure.
The panels shift in orientation, the surrounding vegetation evolves, and intricate twists and turns reveal themselves, inviting you to explore and walk through. The interplay between the warm stone of the stairs and the light-hued stainless steel surrounded by lush greenery and flowers creates a soft ambiance. The building's curves enhance this effect, while the surrounding elements gently soften its sharper edges.
Reflection
Undoubtedly, Frank Gehry resides in a perpetual state of curiosity, exploring the intricacies of human psychology and the profound impact of design. From understanding how individuals respond to unique spaces, to diverse materials and colors, to recognizing the transformative influence of light and scale on people's impressions of a building, Gehry explores the intricate links between geography, weather, and mood to create architecturally immersive experiences. His challenge is not to reinvent, but to reinterpret our perspective on the world, urging us to reconsider preconceptions.
In his architectural pursuits, Gehry doesn't merely invent buildings; he provokes a fundamental shift in our perception of what a building could truly be and encourages us to view architecture through a different lens.
Through this blog, I hope to inspire you to seek out unique traveling opportunities, spark your love for travel and discover beautiful architecture. If you liked this article, sign up to get notified whenever a new post gets published!
