The Fondation* Louis Vuitton
We
wanted to present Paris with an extraordinary space for art and
culture, and demonstrate daring and emotion by entrusting Frank Gehry
with the construction of an iconic building for the 21st century.
On the edge of the Bois de Boulogne (a huge Parisian park few tourists ever visit) is a major gallery and cultural space designed by arguably one of America's most creative living architects; Frank Gehry FAIA.
Gehry buildings tend to provoke very visceral reactions. People either love them a lot or hate them a lot.
I've visited four of his buildings: Santa Monica Place (an early work), Disney Hall, Seattle's Experience Music Project and now Paris' Fondation Louis Vuitton.
The Louis Vuitton Foundation who commissioned the structure officially reports that the building, opened in 2014, cost $143,000,000. As an architect, I'd offer that I view the official cost with extreme skepticism (the French news magazine Marianne reported the final cast was closer to $900,000,000).
The building was between exhibits when I toured. So with the exception of a photographer doing a fashion shoot (it is Fashion Week in Paris), all of the visitors in the building were just there to see the building itself.
At one end of the site water cascades down steps to form a reflecting pool which conveys the impression that the building floats above the water. It is interesting that here Gehry's trademark swoopy doopy lines are not executed in metal panels, they are mainly glass and held away from the building. Sort of like the building is emerging from a cocoon.
The builder had to invent new systems and installation tools to actually construct the building.
The project underwent court challenges mainly due to its location and ultimately received approval to move forward only after a special law was passed saying that the building was in the national interest and "a major work of art for the entire world".
Here are some images for you to draw your own conclusions.
The Curving Glass Panels
Roof Terraces Offer Wonderful Views
Straight Lines Inside the Building
The Cafe Space
Some Fashion Week Shots
The Cascading Fountain
I enjoyed the building. Like the controversial Centre Georges Pompidou and the Pyramid at the Louvre, it extends the boundaries of traditional architecture. I think that buildings that can do that have merit.
Roadboy's Travels © 2018
*Not a typo, it is how the Parisions spell.
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