June 23, 2014
Louis Vuitton Foundation
The Frank Gehry-designed Louis Vuitton Foundation is set to open Oct. 27, letting the public view its 11 galleries that promote 20th and 21st century artistic and creative movements.
CEO Bernard Arnault's art patronage is well-known, and this latest commission of the foundation, conceived in 2006, demonstrates a top-down commitment to the arts in LVMH. Located in the north of Paris, the 126,000 square foot foundation acts as a nexus for the conglomerate's artistic activities.
Cloud of glass
Mr. Gehry drew inspiration from the Jardin d'Acclimation, where the building is situated, for a design that has a softer elegance than some of his harsher works. The building "resembles a cloud of glass," according to LVMH. However, his trademark fragmentation is still present.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, designed by Frank Gehry
For the opening, guests will be able to view an exhibition exploring how Mr. Gehry developed the building. Louis Vuitton recently tapped Mr. Gehry and other creative giants to develop limited-edition handbags (see story).
Gallery space will be divided between the "permanent collection, temporary exhibitions and artists' commissions." An auditorium seats 350 and can host multi-disciplinary events and performances.
The building reportedly cost upward of $136 million.
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