Frank Gehry, designer of Los Angeles?s Walt Disney Concert Hall, is seeking projects in Asian countries including China and India as slower US growth crimps development in the world?s largest economy. The architect said he?s competing to plan a museum in one of China?s fast-expanding metropolitan areas, as well as a ?very spiritual kind of a building? in India, though he declined to give further details.
Gehry, 82, is turning to Asia as developers start few projects in the US. The Architecture Billings Index, an indicator of American construction, plunged to 46.9 last month from 51.4 in August, reflecting lower demand for design services, according to the American Institute of Architects.
Any score less than 50 indicates a decline in billings. Meanwhile, ?there?s an art explosion in China?, Gehry said. ?It?s really great.?