Fondation Louis Vuitton - Frank Gehry's inspirational Parisian landmark

Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris

As a sailor, I imagined great sails that seem to move. They will be reflected in the surface of the pond, over which the building will sit. Since it is not possible to present artwork on glass walls, we built a building within the building for the galleries. There will then be the magical effect of a double skin, which I hope will make the building quite fascinating. -- Frank Gehry

Not only is Frank Gehry's architectural masterpiece quite fascinating, the newly opened Fondation Louis Vuitton provokes an entire range of adjectives. Engaging, amusing and awe-inspiring are some of the descriptions that swirled around in my mind as I explored the building during the pre-opening on Friday.

The view of La Défense from one of the decks of the Fondation Louis Vuitton

Admittedly, aerial photos of the billowing building taken during its construction had me convinced that the structure more closely resembled an exploded mattress than a sailboat. I wasn't a fan. It was only when I saw the luminous structure from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower that I began to understand Gehry's vision. From afar, the luminous building appears to be majestically navigating its way through the tree line of the Bois de Boulogne. The modern skyscrapers of La Défense, the major business district of Paris, provide a stunning backdrop for its 12 silver, glass and aluminum sails.

Fondation Louis Vuitton

The contemporary art museum, which officially opened today, is even more captivating once you're inside. Visitors are encouraged to explore, get lost and wander from the 11 indoor galleries to the numerous outdoor terraces.

Olafur Eliasson's Grotto, a monumental installation composed of forty-three triangular columns of various widths, produces an intriguing challenge for visitors wishing to capture the experience on film. I could have happily spent a couple of hours snapping pictures of the reflecting pool and the mosaics created by the yellow glass but there were still five more floors to visit.

Olafur Eliasson's Grotto

At a reported cost of 107 million euros, construction of the private museum has taken more than six years. Taryn Simon's A Polite Fiction, which comes with a warning that certain elements may shock the young public, reveals secrets hidden in the walls of Frank Gehry's architectural masterpiece by those who built it. In 2013, the artist started interviewing various tradesman who confessed that they had left a pack of Marlboro Lights with one cigarette, a used condom or a ham and cheese sandwich behind the drywall. Their stories provide an amusing yet compelling anthropological study of some of the people involved in this exceptional adventure.

Taryn Simon's A Polite Fiction

Gazing at the Eiffel Tower perfectly framed by the building's glass sails, my niece revealed how humbled she felt by Gehry's design. A newly graduated architect, Charline said that while she is passionate about her profession, she realizes that there are very few people who have the ability to turn a flurry of sketches produced during an 11-hour flight to California into such a unique architectural experience. Yet, if any building can inspire dreams, it's Frank Gehry's Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Fondation Louis Vuitton

8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi 

75116 Paris

Open every day from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Friday late-night opening until 11:00 pm.

Please click here to see the complete album of photos.

Fondation Louis Vuitton