Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center / Frank Gehry
LA Times shot by Isaac BrekkenFrank Gehry’s latest project, a $100 million clinic for brain health in Las Vegas, has just opened this past week. For years, many felt Gehry’s signature style would be a perfect match for Vegas’ decked out architecture, yet the starchitect has continually declined offers. However, this request to design a research facilitiy was quite different; Gehry agreed to design the center only if Huntington was added to the list of diseases the new center would study and treat (Gehry’s good friend saw several loved one suffer from the illness).
The building is definitely an aesthetic throwback, as it shares the recurring elements of previous designs. At times, Gehry’s reliance on his ‘typical’ design moves can make his projects “lose their freshness;” and yet, typical of Gehry, he continues to find ways to justify them.
HerrVebah
The design splits the complex into a pair of separate wings that sit in opposition to one another (one might assume the classic left-brain, right-brain metaphor). The architecture seems to support that assumption as the office wing is rational and contained, and the auditorium free-flowing.
However, the success of the project lies in the two components’ relationship in section, as one piece seems to “infect” the other. This relationship between the two separate wings “gives the design its surprising emotional punch” for simple physical connections between the buildings, on a metaphoric level, represent movement that the patients are slowing loosing.
Atelier Gehry
As Christopher Hawthorne for the LA Times explains, “The unobstructed, informal movement that the design promotes from one wing to another suggests the way we use our brains every day, flowing from left-brain to right-brain thinking and back again without noticing the difference.”
Sure, it may seem, to some, to be far fetched – but on this building, we’ll go with Gehry and give him the benefit of the doubt that he has infused the building with meaning. The 81 year old architect may be using familiar aesthetics, but something seems different. The tectonics speak more to creating a notion of decline, possibly an architectural take on the damage the disease can inflict on a person, or possible the architecture is even the broader issue of aging.
Looking at this building is seriously deteriorating my brain health..
fact!
You are so right… I get a headache just watching the fotos! :)
Win!
Let him do whatever he wants to do. You do whatever you want to do.
Maybe your brain got deteriorated because you realize that you cannot possibly make some people believe in you to let you do whatever you want to do.
I understand why all the naysayers below say what they say. They got so jealous and can’t help but bark at the moon.
Relax there, bulldog… Only reason this is giving me brain diahrrea (or at least the reason for the metaphor) is that it’s a brain health clinic. As someone below us said, this is okay for theaters, museums, etc., but this is complete lack of service to have designed a clinic in this way. I’m working on a huge research clinic here New York (larger than this) and the most basic thing that is involved in its design is that it needs straight walls haha.. The amount of machinery and research equipment that is needed severely restricts what you can do. I’m wondering how the doctors’ reactions were when they took a look at the plans and then took another glance at the equipment specs and cut sheets..
Freak, are you 19 years old in college Design Fundamentals and thinks this look cool? Jealous??? Really? We’re jealous?
I must agree with Freak at least in one respect: it often is a matter of mutual respect and understanding. People often go “mad” because they are asked to deny their own true nature, taking up a standard role defined by society rather than learning to live with their own unique talents. This is something that no human being can do for their entire lives – and sooner or later they will crack.
So when every human being were to just be accepted for what they are, and respectfully encouraged to contribute to society in their own way, there would be much less use for labels like “insane”.
But also, as MPArch noted, it is somewhat troubling that such a building would be part of a Brain Health Clinic. Even though patients are not treated in the space.
What to add… I believe we can all agree that this is purposely provocative! So in the end I suppose it may be a matter of knowing what the architect had in mind. If they meant it as an insult, then it is most likely such. On the one hand, the article clearly states that they agreed to design the center only if Huntington was added to the list of diseases, for personal reasons, and because of this I am keen to consider this “crazy” structure as a way to introduce some playfulness in an otherwise unhealthily somber environment.
My only hope is that such a structure will bring more smiles to the faces of those able to appreciate it, than anger in the hearts of those seeing it as completely insulting towards some extremely serious topics.
Fingers crossed.
what is wrong with this architects whole ideology of architecture, this kind of language was ok for theaters and music venues but this is a clinic! a Clinic 100 mill on a clinic and people are dying cause there’s no medicine in 3rd world africa!
and someone else is actually defending this with the line “The unobstructed, informal movement that the design promotes from one wing to another suggests the way we use our brains every day, flowing from left-brain to right-brain thinking and back again without noticing the difference” talk about loosing touch with reality
what actually happens behind those winding ribbons of walls!
waste of space
I totally agree.
This is obscene.
You are so right
The only reason why I’d disagree is because the center will use their new building as an icon for their organization and cause, which would help raise donations and marketing appeal
You should talk about that to the fashion world, and you know how extravagant they are.
Or just give some freedom to architecture. You know, we architects are not Saints. We just want to create something artsy. Will you tell a painter not to paint because what he does is a piece of s–t?
Plans please, and urgently the section that was mentioned…
please find another solution (like virtual reality or something else) for “starchitects” so they can masturbate in a cheaper way.
agree!
Gehry crossed the line between Architecture and egocentrism. He should leave Bilbao.
+1
it is like fashion or contemporary art, it can be bad but if someone is famous layman agrees..
Maximally agree!!
If this buildings treats brain disease, what treats this buildings desease?
If the relation between positions of the buildings is the main source of ‘emotional’ meaning, by justifying this with an analogy of the left, right hemispheres of our brain, then this project in terms of actively engaging communication with people is a failure. I would dare say the strongest elements carrying this emotional meaning are the windows. Which may remind people of typical apartment windows, but in a distorted configuration, adding drama to a common, ordinary element. But hey, let’s not kid ourselves, this technique on windows, is employ in many other Gehry buildings, it is not particularly intended for this location or function.
I don’t see how the super shiny stainless steel tectonics speaks more of creating a notion of decline; distorted form on this building does that. But then all Gehry “signature style” buildings would be read as declining structures.
Now, I will tell you what this yelling building effectively DOES mean.
HEY PEOPLE… GHERY WAS HERE!!!
You can test this by remembering what was your first thought when you saw the first image. Gehry.
Is Gehry loosing its cool?
losing*
Frank, Frank, Frank.
http://www.archdaily.com/61498/cleveland-clinic-lou-ruvo-center-frank-gehry/ http://fb.me/B75Y3ZdA
amazing ! good job
doh!
I really like how the shell looks on Gehry’s Guggenheim Bilbao, I even like the Disney Concert Hall (even though the neighbors, rightfully so, had issues with the sun glare), but this? This is ridiculous. Gehry – the man who was once a good architect is now stuck on his own preliminary gestures and seems to no longer be able to come up with an original idea. Such a shame.
…either that or he’s given up on true architecture all together and now lets the underlings in his office copy, re-copy, and cremate his original success.
…or he has become a victim of his own success and clients only commission him to design a “Gehry” building. Just ask Libeskind…
Almost every interview i have seen of gehry has him claiming the mantle of artist.. presumably in order to publicly abdicate from his responsibilities as an architect.
It is a magnificent creation of Engineering…
Seriously??? do you really think that??..
And this is called “Architecture”? It shows the total LACK of respect these architects have for the communities they design this junk for !
Gehry, please retire.
agree…
agree, a tired mind should rest a little
Why do you drink, Frank, when you project?
Please tell me what it is, you drink?
All what i can say looking all this building….woooooooooooooooooooow!
white cubes for the rationnal left brain
floppy things for the savage right brain
wow !
I hope sustainable developpement will make that kind of architecture unbearable for everyone, and make it disappear.
why do some people still like Gehry’s buildings since Bilbao, have they ever seen what he build in 1970 and 1980 ?
Could we say that money corrupted Ghery’s though ?
It’s funny how haters in the comments section here forget that the Cleveland Clinic and the Lou Ruvo Center commissioned Gehry to design this, preferring instead to place the blame(!) squarely on Gehry. Meanwhile, architecture is not, and should not be, a selfless act. It is a creative act and people like Gehry are commissioned precisely because they are creative. I am very glad that selfless design is not the norm in popular architecture (suburban subdivision schemes and the homes therein notwithstanding).
what self-indulgent trite!
“architecture is not, and should not be, a selfless act”
I dont know what world you live in, but in this one an architecture degree isnt some licence to build a monument to ones self with other peoples money!
The building is just awful. his worst yet. and to make things worse the only people more delusioned than him are his cashed-up idiot clients.
ps. no suprise there are no interior shots.
Sounds like someone’s read The Fountainhead…
The building is completely ill inspired and is only very marginally redeemed by this greatly irresponsible write-up.
What’s the going rate for architecture critics these days?
gross
Think it’s as bit too expensive and i think this should be called sculpture..
Doesn’t architecture combine sculpture (beauty) and functionalism. When there are walls coming out, doing absolutely nothing but continuing the facade for form’s sake, this is a waste of money. These difficult economic times, I believe are sometimes b.s., when people have money to build such monstrosities that have these additional non-functioning parts – waste of money. I don’t mind the white (back) to the building, which perhaps makes sense, without being over the top frivolous. Let’s have some building awards that take budget into consideration.
Offensive to the architectural practice. that is all.
Agree
By looking at this project it tells me Gehry hes no appreciation for people as people. At all. I find it an insult to humanity.
Is this for MK ultra illuminati-mind-programmed slaves? It must be, seriously.
An insult to humanity… really
Unclench dude, unclench.
seriously…i just threw up my lunch how does he continuely get away with this? its not architecture,its not functional, pretty sure he lost function of both sides of his brain. All he does is crumple the same piece of notebook paper and tell his interns to make it work. I hope they have plenty of duct tape to plug up the massive leaks it’ll have in a year
How does that even translate as architecture? i mean, habitat, shelter, security, and in this case, medicine or at least a related theme but looking at it, it makes me feel like if i ever had brain disease, this is NOT the place to go and get it treated. really. BUT it would look sweet on canvas..maybe thats what he should get into. painting. this particular architecture doesnt stand well with such a name. Gehry.
It makes me wanna puke just like puked my entire studio when I used for the first time 3DS modifiers
i do not understand what, why, where, who, how in the world this stuff continues. boo! hiss! razz!
all of you give him a breake, hi is 82, he already did what had to do for architecture, yes we all’ve seen his works acting like this one but thats not a reason to call him…like few of you
Oh pero, give it a rest. This is architectural critiquing at its best. Weren’t critiques given in school to help make one a better, more informed architect? Constant praise does nothing but gives one a big head and makes the design lacking clarity and reason – whether that be for sculptural reasons or not. Do you feel that this building should be honored through historical preservation in 50 years (if it stands the test of time that is) – I think not.
Just because an architect has been designing for 50-odd years doesn’t mean he can just turn around and design drivel like this.
Is a successful football still successful if he then thinks he’s done enough in his career and starts kicking the ball into his own net?
This is a massive own goal for architecture. Gehry, you’ve let the whole side down.
Footballer* sorry.
“$100 million clinic for brain health”
Why didnt they just settle for $30m and use the other $70m for actual research into brain health!? This first sentence makes the entire thing ridiculous. Hopefully a large part of that sum is for actual equipment and not just because its a gehry-brand.
WTF…..
there’s no interior space picture in this post. I wonder why? :/ (sarcasm)
Ugh. Contrive, much? Even for Gehry this is not acceptable. I agree that the forms for Bilbao and Disney are seductive, but this is ultimate cartoonery! Next will be a silver plated, distorted rubber-ducky. He’s devolving in front of our eyes!
it’s no use.
the more you throw stones at him, the more you feed his starchitect ego.
OKAY bilbao was important, because it was fist of its kind.
It was an excess. The excess in right time, on right place. Gehry became an icon. A pop star.A brand. Now, 20 years later, it is clear that is enough for him. Gehry is not about architecture. Gehry is about Gehry. That is all he need, because he knows 200 years later, he WILL be in the books. And he will be there for Bilbao, so anything else he does is not important anymore for him.
Stunning 8-0
‘This relationship between the two separate wings “gives the design its surprising emotional punch” for simple physical connections between the buildings, on a metaphoric level, represent movement that the patients are slowing loosing.’
‘right-brain metaphor’ sculpture – looks intensive – so glossy.. it scares
R.I.P
#BAD
I’m Melting….melltttiiinnggg.
The second photo tells me all I need to know – excessively sculptural facade with no relation to interior spaces or functionality at all.
Someone needed the money, I see.
Maybe twenty years ago, but now? Common Frank, we all have seen it already.
I can’t help but remember one of Simpsons’ movies starring Gehry…
I wish more buildings of this kind were like BIG’s “Psy” or there were more open competitions to make young, talented and healthy-minded people create proper environment for such an important purpose.
obviously this is sick.
Just sad not sick..
If they hadn’t spent so much money on the building they probably would have had enough money to cure Gherey’s brain damage.
Inspire me. Cool!
Gehry should advise them to plant vines…
It’s COOL but not cool enough.
still the BEST!
it looks like poo wrapped in paper. tsk tsk seriously it’s no longer art, it has become some sort of FRANCHISE. tsk.
A FRANK-chise… LOL.
Frank gehry must have lost his mind. this building is outrageous. Madness. Completely unacceptable. his licence must be revoked.
really???…… this is totally a mix of his former style and his new style…… Mr. Gehry maybe if you change your name another time you will get some new interesting ideas
Haiti after the earthquake…
Why do people keep hiring this one trick pony, what a waste!
Ladies and gentlemen… architecture on LSD.
You obviously haven’t had LSD ever, it gets you in a state of harmony with the universe, not this s**t
The number of comments say it all..
but someone stop him….hiz losin it…..
i wouldn’t be so quick to judge, only by seeing 3 photos and reading a critique, which tries to read some sense into too little information (with all regards to Hawthorne’s interesting thoughts).
Maybe we are already tired of Frank’s Pranks?
i don’t like Gehry generally, but to be fair: do you only design surfaces and judge architecture by surfaces? maybe there is more about this design – and Gehry provided us with great spatial experiences as well as with great spatial dissapointments before… from a first sight, I am quite ineretsed, what’s the story behind this building, metling away like Dali’s clocks… Maybe, we don’t like the surface, but maybe the reason makes it reasonabily… And you might like or hate him – Gehry opend up a new sight of architecture – too sadly, so many times poorly copied by commercial architects, who thought that you could be like Gehry, just by shifting things… i want to see the inside/diagrams/sections/plans before i start to throw rocks…. and after all: IT’S LAS VEGAS!
Where the respect stays for the nature and the environment? That has happened to us, this where our contact with the natural thing?
Let’s hope their ‘brain patients’ aren’t recovering shroom addicts who still experience trips.
I am not a gehry fan. But why is there so much hate here for Gehry? Seriously people grow up. Stop being jealous because he is designing and it shows. You never hear great architects trash talking ther architects because they are too busy designing not trash talking. Seriously if you have something to say why don’t you haters come up wig your own clients and show him how it’s done. Till then shut the he’ll up. Haters.
Do you think this is a good building?
I can’t say like the building or hate it because I haven’t been in the space. And judging base on aesthetics I think that the building is effective is producing a strong visual memory which I think is appropriate for an alzhiemers clinic. I can’t say if that is a good memory or bad one, but it’s pretty effective considering the backlash it’s getting on here. From what I understand, the stucture is apart of a formal gateway to a new massive urban development in downtown las Vegas and is located next to a major outlet mall and soon to be other cultural functions. Gerhy’s architecture is uber redundant obviously but so is Meier, Ando, and even other less known firms in the world. Not everyone approaches architecture the same. Thank god for diversity. I’m sure if everyone was designing funky twisted cubes gerhy wouldn’t be doing them anymore.
I can say I like the building or not because I haven’t been in the space. But based on just the images the building is quite effective at creating a lasting memory. The jumbled shapes do produce a lasting memory whether it’s a good or bad memory I feel that the architecture is appropriate for an alzhiemers clinic where they are trying to deal with the retreaving memories. Also, from my shallow understanding of the project, the building acts as a gateway into the new developement of downtown las Vegas becoming the icon of a new urban center. Also, the site is adjacent to a outlet mall where tourist come and go and perhaps are inclined to visit the clinic. The clinic serves a dual purpose which is a clinic as well as a venue for fundaraising for the alzhiemers research. It’s true Tha gerhy’s architecture is redundant, but so is Richard Meier’s and Tadao Ando’s architecture. Even other well know local firms all over the world have a signature style or look. Everyone has thief own style. If the clinic wanted something that blended in and used all the buzz words I’m sure they would have hired a local firm. Obviously they wanted something iconic. Thank god for diversity.
Not a gehry fan but still… says:
‘But why is there so much hate here for Gehry?’
I guess people generally have an aversion to egomaniacs who lazily and contemptibly trot out the same tired old designs regardless of cost, context, performance in order to enhance their largesse and bank balance whilst the general public has to endure the consequences. Probably in a similar way in which to the public view investment bankers?
What I do find a bit pathetic is the general use of the word ‘Haters’. Its not hate, its criticism. I don’t hate him, I think morally he’s quite bankrupt, but I don’t like his work as I find it cynical.
You are so negative. Get a life dude. Seriously.
Like your earlier comment, a total non-point. Here’s a tip for you: why not actually try framing and then verbalising your argument that moaning about others post?
this emphasizes the fact that there is so much better architecture out there at the moment, and its all from amazing young firms, pushing the norms of what architectural space can really be,and it doesnt need to slap on some curly metal rehash on the facade either. just real architecture, responding to site and context, for real people to inhabit.
Not a gerhy fan but still… says:
“The jumbled shapes do produce a lasting memory whether it’s a good or bad memory I feel that the architecture is appropriate for an alzhiemers clinic where they are trying to deal with the retreaving memories.”
wow. just wow. Sounds like sitting in on a first year crit.
well lets look at it this way…gehry could have put a billboard saying that ‘this is a frank gehry design’ or he could have gone with a pathetic replication of his previous work…i guess he went with the latter…this is how blockbuster celeb architects work …
Perhaps the best way for all of us, who really don’t care for this particular Gehry building, to quietly place Gehry’s designs to rest is to stop commenting on them – entirely. This horrible design has gotten more feedback than any other project I can recall in the past few months – and it’s all based upon how many of us dislike this particular design. Gehry’s popularity is going up, simply because of the fact that we’re talking about – whether it’s good or bad architecture. So we (myself included) should perhaps just remain quiet when we see that Gehry’s made yet another one of his copies – and hope that in time his popularity will cease to exist…
well, at first I searched smth else for more info about this building.
well.. Wikipedia says, that this building’s function is to “..Keep Memory Alive..of Larry Ruvo father”.
so, Client wanted to built a functioning, practical Monument.
To my opinion: it is interesting “nonsense”. but the result is achieved: this building is very noticeable and no one could be indifferent/apathetic when go through this building.
in any event this building will be exclusive as most built Frank Gehry’s buildings (nothing new, but…:-).
Well, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about… Still, there’s no excuse for infecting the world with this vulgar rubbish.
Gehry,please retire…no more jokes..just stop!
Oh! Frank Gehry
I think Gehry is a great arch. but your proyect are extrange.
Oaho!!
What is this project?
Is a building or is a sculpture?
>> Is a building or is a sculpture?\
C. None of the above.
4:27 AM Mar 26th
#FrankGehry designed a clinic for ppl w/ brain injuries? Was his style really needed? http://tinyurl.com/25t5e5c #architecture #RuvoCenter
9:24 AM Aug 3rd
hoy tuve la oportunidad de conocer este proyecto >> Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center / Frank Gehry | ArchDaily http://t.co/Gli0wRq