Just more than a decade ago, architect Frank Gehry proposed a dramatic change to the Rocky Steps

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Frank Gehry's Rocky Steps Revival Sparks Debate

As one of America's most celebrated architects, Frank Gehry had always been known for his bold and unconventional designs. Recently, it has come to light that nine years ago, the renowned architect proposed a radical plan to alter Philadelphia's iconic Rocky steps, which are now set to be preserved in their original state.

Gehry's initial idea, brought forth by board member Mark Rubenstein, was to partially dismantle the East Terrace steps and replace them with a 24-foot window. The new gallery would have provided an unparalleled view of the Philadelphia skyline for visitors exploring the space. However, this dramatic change was met with fierce opposition from both the public and "Rocky" enthusiasts.

A petition to "Save the Rocky Steps," which garnered over 1,400 signatures, highlighted the community's attachment to the original structure. Critics argued that altering the iconic steps would fundamentally alter their character, despite Gehry insisting that this simple change could have a profound impact on the galleries.

Gehry's plan was ultimately rejected in favor of preserving the historic landmark. However, his influence on the museum's design is evident in its renovated West Terrace and added Williams Forum activity space. The architect also uncovered the long-abandoned Vaulted Walkway, which has become a notable feature of the structure.

Throughout his illustrious career, Gehry has left an indelible mark on architecture worldwide. His work can be seen in iconic structures like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Known for pioneering computer-aided design, Gehry's innovative approach continues to inspire generations of architects.

Gehry passed away at 96, leaving behind a legacy that will undoubtedly continue to shape urban landscapes for years to come.
 
omg i feel bad for the people who are sad about the rocky steps being preserved 🤕 it was actually really cool to see how passionate people got about saving this iconic landmark 💖 but on the other hand, im glad frank gehrys vision is still visible in the museum's design 🎨 he did leave such an incredible mark on architecture and i love that his work continues to inspire new generations of architects 🔥 it would have been interesting to see how the window gallery would've turned out tho 🤔 but overall, its all good news that the historic landmark is safe 💯
 
ugh i mean... can u imagine if they actually did go through with gehrys plan? 😱 it would be crazy! the rocky steps are iconic and all, but i dont think its worth sacrificing their original charm just for a fancy new window gallery 🤔. on the other hand, i do love how gehrs design influenced the museum's renovation - thats some next level architecture stuff 💥. and its wild that gehrys old vaulted walkway was hidden away 🏰. overall, its kinda cool to see how his legacy lives on even after he passed away 💕.
 
I mean, can you imagine walking up the Rocky steps and suddenly being like "Oh wait, is that a giant glass wall now?" 🤣 I guess it's cool they preserved the original structure, but Gehry's idea was kinda like me suggesting we put a giant couch in the middle of Times Square – just not the vibe we're going for 😂. On a more serious note, though, Frank Gehry is literally a genius and his designs are always so bold and crazy awesome 🤯!
 
omg i'm still thinkin about frank gehrys rocky steps revival plan 🤯 it's crazy how passionate people were about savin the original structure 🙌 i mean i can see why they wanted to keep it the same but at the same time that 24ft window would've been INSANE 🔥 imagine walkin down the steps and havin a birdseye view of philly skyline lol 😂 anyway it's def cool that his design is still influenceing the museum's renovation 🏛️ and i love how he found this old vaulted walkway thingy 👀 he was indeed a genius architect and his legacy lives on 💖
 
I gotta say, it's crazy to think about how much debate went on around the Rocky steps revamp. I mean, nine years ago they were gonna blow up the whole East Terrace and put in this huge window... 🤯 it's wild that people were so attached to the original design. As an architecture fan, I can appreciate both sides of the argument - Gehry's idea sounds like it could've been pretty cool, but I also get why people wanted to preserve the historic landmark.

It's crazy to think about all the other iconic buildings that Gehry has designed over the years... the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall... he's definitely left a mark on the architecture world. 💼
 
I'm low-key bummed that Frank Gehry's plan didn't work out, you know? 🤔 I mean, who wouldn't want to see his iconic design on the Rocky steps, right? The idea of a 24-foot window is actually pretty cool, and I can see how it would have added this whole new dimension to the space. But, I guess the community just felt too attached to the original vibes 🙅‍♂️.

Anyway, it's awesome that his influence can still be seen in other parts of the museum. The West Terrace renovation looks fire 🔥, and I love how they uncovered that Vaulted Walkway – it's like a little secret only now we know about 😎.

Frank Gehry may not have gotten to see his Rocky steps plan come to life, but his legacy is still totally on point 🙌. He's one of those architects who always pushed the boundaries and made us rethink what's possible in design 🤯.
 
I'm still kinda surprised they didn't go for the window thing lol 😂. I mean, it sounds pretty cool! But at the same time, I can see why people would want to keep things as they are. It's one of those iconic spots that you just wanna be able to take a pic and look good doing it 📸. The fact that Gehry got such a reaction out of the community shows how strong an emotional connection people have with public spaces. I think it's kinda refreshing that they didn't go through with the changes, even if it means the steps might not be as 'wow' as they could've been 😊.
 
omg, i'm still kinda bummed that frank gehry's plans for the rocky steps didn't go through 🤔... like, can you imagine seeing a 24ft window in place of those iconic stairs? 😱 it would've been SO cool! but at the same time, i get why people were attached to preserving the original vibe. it's not just about the design, but also the history and nostalgia behind it ❤️

i mean, gehry has done some wild stuff throughout his career, but this one was just crazy 🤯 like, who wouldn't want a view of philly's skyline from the steps? 😂 still, i guess it's better that they stuck with the classic look. his influence on architecture is still huge tho 👏
 
You know what's wild? I was just thinking about how much I love those old-school video games on my console the other day 🤯 like, have you ever played Super Mario Bros.? I mean, it's crazy how far gaming has come since then. And it got me thinking, if Frank Gehry designed a level for that game... imagine what it would be like! It'd be all wavy and curved, just like his buildings 😂. But for real though, have you seen the designs he did for Walt Disney Concert Hall? Mind-blowing stuff 🤯
 
omg i love frank gehrys designs hes sooo inspirational! i think its amazing how much influence he has on architecture rn lol his revival idea for the rocky steps was def intriguing tho, who knows what couldve happened if it got greenlit 🤯 but im glad they decided to keep the original steps intact, its such a iconic landmark and doesnt need any changes 🙌 lets give it up for frank gehry, hes truly a legend in the architecture world 💕
 
omg i'm like totally fascinated by the whole rocky steps debate 🤯 - the idea of having a massive window in the middle of it is just soooo bold and daring 💥 but at the same time, it's easy to see why the community would be attached to the original design 🙏 the fact that they were able to gather over 1400 signatures and make their voices heard is really inspiring 🎉 it's a great reminder of how important it is for people to have a say in the places we love 💕
 
omg can you even imagine rocky steps with a giant window?? 🤯 i think its kinda cool that they didnt go through with it tho, its iconic and all but i think its awesome that frank gehry was thinking outside the box lol. im glad they got to save the vaulted walkway tho, thats such a hidden gem! 🏛️💡
 
Wow 🤯, can you believe the controversy surrounding Frank Gehry's Rocky Steps revival plan? It's interesting 💡 how something as simple as altering a iconic landmark like the steps could stir up so much debate and passion from the community 👥. I mean, 1400 signatures on a petition to "Save the Rocky Steps" is no joke! 🤯 What do you guys think would've been better, the original or Gehry's plan? 😐
 
so the rocky steps are gonna be left alone and not get that fancy new gallery window 🙄 can't say I'm surprised, gotta respect the public's attachment to the original vibes though 👍 still cool to see what else Frank Gehry has got up his sleeve, like that vaulted walkway he found 🤔 might've been a good time for some dramatic change tho... but whatever, history preserved, yaaas! 💯
 
the controversy around the Rocky steps is kinda crazy, i mean can u imagine having to live with a window in ur iconic step? 🤣 the fact that it got rejected is a relief tho, i think preserving historic landmarks is super important, it's not just about aesthetics, it's also about keeping the memories and emotions attached to those places. on the other hand, it's cool to see how Gehry's influence can still be seen in the museum's design, his innovative approach will always be inspiring 😊
 
just heard about this crazy proposal from Frank Gehry to change Rocky steps and I gotta say, i'm all for it lol 🤣. I mean, who wouldn't want a massive window in the middle of historic Philly landmark? but seriously, preservation is important and the community came together to save the original design 👏. that being said, it's still super cool to see Gehry's influence on the museum's renovation 💡. his designs are always so... wow 🤯. and can you believe he was into computer-aided design back in the day? like a total pioneer in the field 🚀. anyway, gotta respect the guy for leaving behind such an amazing legacy 💕
 
I dont think the city of philly would have been able to get away with changing those famous steps especially when so many people have strong ties to them its not just about the steps its about history and what the community wants, imo 🤔 I do wonder though how it would have looked like with that big window tho 🗼️
 
I'm still kinda bummed about the Rocky Steps Revival outcome 🤔💔 but I think it's awesome that Frank Gehry got his creative spark on & shared it with us! His design ideas might not have changed Philly's iconic steps, but they've inspired other amazing spaces like the West Terrace & Vaulted Walkway #ArchitectureGoals #FrankGehryForever

And can we talk about how much we love the guy? He's a true pioneer in computer-aided design and his work continues to shape our cities in incredible ways 🌆💻 I mean, who wouldn't want to see Frank Gehry's designs in real life? They're like a symphony of shapes & colors! #GehryLove

It's also super cool that the community came together to preserve the Rocky Steps. We gotta protect those historic landmarks for future generations to enjoy & appreciate #HistoricLandmarks #CommunityFirst
 
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