charles gwathmey 1938 2009

the guggenheim museum, new york image tony cenicola /nyt

architect charles gwathmey known for his modernist homes and public buildings died on monday in manhattan, aged 71.

having received his master’s degree in architecture from yale in 1962, gwathmey was hired by his parents to build a house for them. this design catapulted him to success at the age of 27. he founded the firm of gwathmey siegel & associates with robert siegel in 1968 and is perhaps best known for the 1992 renovation and expanison of frank llyod wright’s guggenheim museum in new york.

he was part of a generation of architects who put their own aesthetic stamp on the ‘high modernist’ style developed in the early 20th  century by le corbusier and others. many of mr gwathmey’s houses were designed for a series of wealthy clients including steven spielberg, jerry seinfeld and david geffen, among others. read more

the guggenheim museum, new york image courtesy gwathmey siegel & associates

the house on long island designed by charles gwathmey for his parents, completed in 1966 photo fred r. conrad/ nyt

jewish children’s museum photo © david sundberg/esto image courtesy gwathmey siegel & associates

jewish children’s museum photo © david sundberg/esto image courtesy gwathmey siegel & associates

charles gwathmey in his apartment in manhattan photo diane bondareff/ nyt