Designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 2003, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is an example of desconstructivism. Made from undulating sheets of stainless steel, the structure was in fact inspired by Gehry’s love of sailing. In fact, Gehry had first intended to create a stone-clad building, but his sleek metallic success in Blibao encouraged him to tweak his original design. The result? An expression of swooping enthusiasm that encapsulates LA’s informality and joy.
24. Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal
Even if the historically minded architecture buff were to look at this building’s exterior – blocky in shape, and covered in plates of white cement, broken up by large sheets of glass – and raise an eyebrow, they’d not be able to deny the superlative effect that its shape has on acoustics. Designed by Rem Kookhaas, it was widely acclaimed as one of the most important concert halls built in the last century.
