The Fondation Louis Vuitton is a ‘must-see’ sight in Paris.

It is situated in the Bois de Boulogne, not very far from Paris centre. And it is not only the Foundation’s exceptional contemporary art collections (permanent and temporary) that is the attraction in themselves, it is also the architectural work of the fondation; designed by Frank Gehry.

The Foundation was established at the initiative of French entrepreneur and LVMH group’s CEO Bernard Arnault in 2006. The Fondation Louis Vuitton opened to the public on October 27, 2014.

The building of the Fondation Louis Vuitton is sited within the Jardin d’Acclimatation, which is a garden part of the Bois de Boulogne – an 846-hectare public park created in the mid-19th century in the sixteen arrondissement of Paris. The building itself is characterized by twelve large glass-and-steel “sails” enveloping a core, named “The Iceberg”, made in white Ultra-High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPC) – meaning it cannot melt (as was the issue of the twin towers of 9/11).

The collection of the Louis Vuitton Foundation is focused mainly on international contemporary art; it comprises hundreds of pieces (the exact number is unknown) – paintings, sculptures, installations, and media-art works – sorted into four categories: Contemplative, Pop, Expressionist, and Music & Sound. There was unfortunately no exhibition for the few days I went to visit. However, the architectural part of the visit itself was very impressive, and it left me wanting to come back to experience an exhibition for the next time I come around. No doubt about it.

The Grotto gallery on the ground floor with the “Inside the Horizon” installation by Olafur Eliasson