Louis Vuitton Foundation; Where architecture and art meet
Categories : Exhibitions and Museums, published on : 12/11/14
An extraordinary new space for art and culture, the new Louis Vuitton Foundation is an architectural marvel designed by Frank Gehry and partially inspired by the glass and metal Grand Palais. The inauguration is taking place in three stages from October 2014 to September 2015. Each stage is to be marked by an exhibition, more of the permanent collection being revealed, and a schedule of events including live musical concerts in the building’s arena.
The gradual inauguration of the Louis Vuitton Foundation
The Louis Vuitton Foundation building project was begun in 2006, with construction work commencing in 2008. This presented special challenges owing to the complexity of Frank Gehry’s design, but all have been successfully met and overcome. Located adjacent to the Jardin d’Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne, the building gives the impression of the sails of a ship, billowing magnificently in the wind, an impression enhanced by the cascade of water in which it stands. There are eleven galleries, a 350 seat auditorium and a series of roof terraces set at various levels where events and art installations can be held. It is the first privately funded major cultural institution in France and will become the property of the city in just over fifty years.
The first stage of the inauguration, currently underway, is dedicated to discovering the architecture of the building. Currently on show is an exhibition displaying the models created by Frank Gehry charting the course of the project’s evolution from initial sketches through to the completion of the building work. This exhibition is itself a remarkably presented art installation, the journey through it evoking the journey through the building itself. A large scale piece in the centre of the gallery is the approval model for the building, linking concept and completion.
There will also be a series of artistic events to mark this initial stage of the inauguration, including musical performances, choreography, poetry readings and sonic sculpture that are designed to resonate in harmony with the building.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris
Telephone : +331 40 69 96 00
Fondation Louis Vuitton - Exposition Frank Gehry 6 © Gehry Partners LLP
The Chess Hotel, a chic 4 * hotel close to the Opera Garnier
