Vanity Fair recently asked 52 prominent architects and critics to name the most important pieces of architecture built since 1980. The winner of the informal survey - which is to be published in the magazine's August issue - is a familiar face who hardly needs more accolades from his peers in the architectural establishment.

Frank Gehry emerged at the top of the poll for his design for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, right. The curvy museum opened to the public in 1997 and has since become one of Gehry's signature buildings.

Of the poll's 52 participants, 28 placed Bilbao on their lists - about three times as many votes received by the second-place building (Renzo Piano's Menil Collection), said Vanity Fair.

- David Ng, Los Angeles Times