Weekendpaper* | Remembering Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry was the greatest architect of the past 50 years and a lovable – if sometimes cranky – human being whose passing at the age of 96 will leave a gap in the lives of his many friends.

We were never close but I consider myself blessed to have explored and written about so many of his buildings, and by his willingness to talk candidly about himself and his work. His range was extraordinary, designing an unrealised Xanadu for insurance mogul Peter Lewis and a vast Guggenheim satellite in Abu Dhabi while taking on humble tasks pro bono. Classical music was a passion and he created a dozen innovative venues, like the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and the hall for the Coburn School of Music in downtown LA.

The early years were a struggle. His own house, on which he first finished work in 1978, served as a manifesto: a carapace of plywood and corrugated metal wrapped around what he called ‘a dumb Dutch colonial'. A few recognised it as a brilliant work of art but neighbours hated it and it was widely ridiculed. It now takes its place among the landmarks of 20th-century architecture.

Since Design Miami first launched in 2005, collectible design has been catapulted onto the global stage. This week’s been proof, with some 80 international exhibitors congregating beneath a sprawling tent in Miami Beach, and a version of the fair announced for Dubai in 2027, joining the existing Paris offshoot.

The theme for the fair, which runs through Sunday, is ‘Make. Believe.’, or as Design Miami CEO Jen Roberts put it, ‘a celebration of the extraordinary power of design to turn imagination into reality’.

We’ve been on the ground all week, amidst this whirlwind of creativity, perusing booths, special installations and galleries (not to mention the greater hurricane that is Miami Art Week). If there’s a common denominator, it’s their ability to ignite the imagination and their sense of fun. Anna Fixsen reports on highlights including covetable 20th-century masterpieces, a tower made from ceramic pickles and a chair back imprinted with Batman’s abs of steel.

In the heart of Rajasthan, where sandstone walls still carry the breath of centuries, Jaipur stands as a place where past and present glow together in shades of pink. Once a royal stronghold and now a laboratory of creativity, its streets bustle with unruly rickshaws even as they echo the grandeur of kings. From the filigreed Hawa Mahal palace to new design-forward restaurants, from the astronomical wonders of observatory site Jantar Mantar to sleek boutiques, and the City Palace where Mughal and Rajput aesthetics merge, the Pink City wears its heritage like an heirloom while stepping confidently into the future.

Planning a home renovation or new build? This analogue wooden room planner by Planora is the brainchild of three Swedish architects to help you conceptualise your new space without constantly looking at a screen. Pop out its precisely scaled pieces and play with your floorplan. ‘Many customers describe the experience as calming or even meditative – like a refined, grown-up take on Lego,’ say the trio. Available online.