CH’NG Poh Tiong
Legendary Architect Frank Gehry (1929–2025)
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain (1997)
Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle (2000)
Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003)
The world of design and architecture recently mourned the loss of a true visionary.
Frank Gehry, the legendary architect who reshaped our skylines and imagination, passed away in Santa Monica, California, on 5 December 2025 at the age of 96.
As we reflect on a prolific career that gifted us landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, wine lovers have a special reason to raise a glass in his memory.
The Marqués de Riscal City of Wine, nestled in the heart of Spain’s Rioja Alavesa, stands as one of Frank Gehry’s most captivating creations
The story of how Gehry came to design Marqués de Riscal’s City of Wine shows the charms of Bodega Marqués de Riscal.
When initially approached, Gehry was hesitant. The winery’s masterstroke was to serve him a 1929 vintage—wine from the year of his birth. Persuaded by the charm of Bodegas Marqués de Riscal, Gehry took on the project.
The result is breathtaking. Rising above the original 19th Century sandstone bodegas, the Hotel Marqués de Riscal appears like a magnificent, abstract sculpture permanently dancing over the vines.
Its famous titanium canopy is a direct homage to the wine, shimmering in pink (the red wine), gold (the braid on Riscal bottles), and silver (foil cap on the bottle).
“I approach each building as a sculptural object, a spatial container, a space with light and air, a response to context and appropriateness of feeling and spirit,” he once said. “To this container, this sculpture, the user brings his baggage, his program, and interacts with it to accommodate his needs. If he can’t do that, I’ve failed.”
The City of Wine has hotel accommodation and luxury amenities that include a vinotherapy spa and gourmet restaurants.
A visit begins at the historic heart of the estate. Guests first explore the “Original Bodega” from 1860, followed by its first expansion—the 1883 Bordeaux-style building known as El Palomar, before arriving at Gehry’s masterpiece.
Also as a Marriott Luxury Collection hotel, it offers 61 uniquely designed rooms and suites. Its success prompted a 2021 expansion, adding 18 new premium spa rooms with balconies and a VIP meeting room, proving its enduring appeal.
