Louis Vuitton Foundation facts for kids
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| Established | 20 October 2014 |
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| Location | 8 Avenue du Mahatma-Gandhi 16th arrondissement of Paris, France |
| Visitors | 1.4 million (2017) |
| Architect | Frank Gehry |
| Owner | LVMH |
The Louis Vuitton Foundation (in French: Fondation d'entreprise Louis-Vuitton) is a famous art museum and cultural center in Paris, France. It is supported by the company LVMH, which owns many luxury brands. The Foundation is a separate, nonprofit group that helps promote art and culture.
This amazing art museum first opened its doors on October 20, 2014. The unique building was designed by the American architect Frank Gehry. It is located next to the Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne park in Paris. Many people love to visit this museum; over 1.4 million visitors came in 2017.
Contents
History of the Foundation
In 2001, Bernard Arnault, who is the head of LVMH, met with architect Frank Gehry. He shared his idea for a new building for the Louis Vuitton Foundation. The plan for this exciting building was first shown in 2006.
The city of Paris, which owns the park where the museum is built, gave permission for the construction in 2007. There were some discussions about the building's location. However, a special law was passed in France that said the Foundation was important for the country. This allowed the building to go ahead.
The museum officially opened to the public in October 2014. Before it opened, the building was even used for a Louis Vuitton fashion show.
Architecture and Design
Building Design
When Frank Gehry visited the garden, he was inspired by old glass buildings in Paris. He imagined a building with glass structures, like the Palmarium, which was built in 1893. The museum's design connects it to the Jardin d'Acclimatation and the Bois de Boulogne park.
The building has two floors and 11 art galleries of different sizes. It also has a large auditorium with 350 seats on the lower floor. There are even roof terraces where events and art displays can be held.
Gehry designed the building to look like a sailboat with its sails full of wind. These glass sails wrap around a central part that looks like an "iceberg." This "iceberg" has white, flower-like terraces. The galleries on the upper floors get light from hidden skylights.
On the side of the building facing Avenue Mahatma Gandhi, you can see a large stainless-steel "LV" logo. This was also designed by Gehry.
Construction Process
Building the Louis Vuitton Foundation began in March 2008. To create such a unique building, new technologies were used. For example, 3D design software, which is often used for airplanes, helped with the design. All the teams working on the project shared information in real-time using the same digital model.
The construction faced some challenges regarding its permit. However, the city of Paris changed its rules, and the project was allowed to continue.
In 2012, a big step was taken when the glass sails were put in place. These sails are made of 3,584 glass panels. Each panel is unique and specially curved to fit Gehry's design. The gallery sections are covered in a special white concrete. The teams who built the museum have won several awards for their work.
Art Collection
The museum's collection includes artworks owned by LVMH and Bernard Arnault. You can see pieces by famous artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gilbert & George, and Jeff Koons.
The Foundation has also asked artists to create special artworks just for the building. These include pieces by Ellsworth Kelly, Olafur Eliasson, and Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller.
For example, Ellsworth Kelly made a colorful curtain called Spectrum VIII (2014) for the auditorium. Olafur Eliasson created Inside the Horizon (2014), which has 43 yellow columns that light up from the inside.
Auditorium for Music
The Auditorium inside the Foundation can be used as a small concert hall. The very first concert was performed by the pianist Lang Lang in October 2014. Many other talented musicians have performed there, including Yuja Wang and Chick Corea.
How the Museum is Run
Funding and Ownership
The museum was built and is supported by LVMH, and it carries the name and logo of its main brand, Louis Vuitton. After 55 years, the building will become the property of the city of Paris.
See also
In Spanish: Fondation Louis Vuitton para niños
- List of works by Frank Gehry
