Experience the Architectural Marvel: Frank Gehry's LUMA Arles Building finally unveils its doors to the world!

Frank Gehry’s 15,000-square-metre tower, the twisting geometric structure that houses exhibition galleries, project spaces, and LUMA’s research and archive facilities, is at the heart of the Luma Arles, the 27-acre creative campus in the city of Arles. The campus also features workshop and seminar rooms, seven former railway factories, four of which were renovated by Selldorf Architects as exhibition and performance spaces, and surrounding gardens and a public park designed by landscape architect Bas Smets. Luma Arles is a creative hub where art, culture, environmental issues, human rights, education, and research intersect. It was designed to provide artists with opportunities to experiment in the production of new work, in close collaboration with other artists from various disciplines, curators, and diverse audiences.

Maja Hoffmann, the founder of the LUMA Foundation, established the Arles project in 2004 as a leading international philanthropic organization. She commissioned major international artists, including Etel Adnan, Ólafur Elíasson, Koo Jeong A, Kapwani Kiwanga, Helen Marten, Pierre Huyghe, Carsten Höller, Philippe Parreno, and Rirkrit Tiravanija amongst others, to create special new commissions for LUMA. These works are on display in the opening program, which features the work of over 45 artists and designers.

Gehry’s design evokes the local context, from Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ to the soaring rock clusters found in the region. The building’s central drum echoes the plan of the Roman amphitheatre. The tower serves as a research and archive center, exhibition galleries, project spaces, and seminar rooms. The renovated factories, which were once used as railway workshops, now serve as exhibition and performance spaces. The surrounding gardens and public parks are designed to create a seamless transition between the campus and the city of Arles.

The Luma Arles project is a testament to the vision of Maja Hoffmann, who is committed to providing artists with opportunities to experiment in the production of new work and to showcase their work to a diverse audience. The campus is a collaborative space where artists from various disciplines can come together to create new works and explore new ideas. It is a dynamic and vibrant space where art, culture, environmental issues, human rights, education, and research intersect.

The opening program of Luma Arles features an impressive list of artists and designers, including the works of Etel Adnan, Ólafur Elíasson, Koo Jeong A, Kapwani Kiwanga, Helen Marten, Pierre Huyghe, Carsten Höller, Philippe Parreno, and Rirkrit Tiravanija, amongst others. The program includes exhibitions, performances, and workshops, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to engage with the works of some of the most talented artists and designers from around the world.

The Luma Arles project is a testament to the power of philanthropy to create transformative spaces that bring together art, culture, environmental issues, human rights, education, and research. The project is a collaboration between artists, architects, landscape architects, and philanthropists, who have come together to create a dynamic and vibrant creative campus that will inspire and engage visitors for years to come. Luma Arles is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in contemporary art, architecture, and design.

Cover photo: Luma Tower imagined by Frank Gehry, January 2021. Luma Arles, Parc des Ateliers, Arles (France) © Adrian Deweerdt