Davis Residence and Studio

Frank Gehry
February 28, 1929
In his early life, Frank Gehry worked as a truck driver and attended night
school for ceramics. It was there that Glen Lukens, one of his ceramics
teachers took him to a house he was building by Raphael Soriano and after
seeing the excitement Gehry had for architecture, Lukens enrolled him in an
architecture class. And so was the start of him becoming one of the most
influential architects in the field for postmodern design.

The Guggenheim Museum

Walt Disney Concert Hall

 Ron Davis

An American painter who focused on geometric

abstraction and illusionist paintings.
Ron Davis Studio
Malibu

Davis originally asked for 2 separate buildings to

accommodate his home and studio but after
discussions of perspective, geometry and perceptual
illusion it evolved into the unique trapezoidal
structure it is today.
Early Stages

Gehry wanted to keep a focus on the architect-artist relationship since the start of
the project which is clearly shown in the images above. These sketches of the building
echo the work of Davis’ own art at the time with perspective, geometry and illusion.
A container full of spaces...

The main goal for this structure was to allow

Davis to make the adaptable spaces inside his
own based on the functionality he needed.
Floor Plan
Inside a closed column
containing the kitchen and
bathroom separates the sleeping
space of working at ground level,
while a ladder – bridge connects
above. The open interior
accommodates not only a garage,
but also the production and
exhibition of works of art of great
size, a continuation of the
dialogue between the artist and
architect.
Structure
This project allowed Gehry to
use large and affordable
material to build with. The
structure is made of wood,
covered with sheets of
galvanized steel and exposed
plywood. The building was
designed to allow different
levels of stepped additions,
therefore increasing the surface
area.