Paris enjoys a cultural revival: The Louis Vuiton Foundation
Paris is enjoying quite a cultural revival at the moment. A brand new attraction is about to open to the public for the first time at the end of October. The Louis Vuitton Foundation building situatedin the Bois de Boulogne has been designed by architect Frank Gehry and is in a style which is spectacularly abstract and has led to it being described as either a ship or a whale. The building is said to have been inspired by the Grand Palais and by the Palmarium of 1893.
The design is supposed to represent a sailing boat with it’s sails filled by the wind. These sails of glass surround an “iceberg”.
Whatever it may look like the appearance of the building certainly is rather disjointed it consists of 12 enormous glass panels which give the whole structure a shimmering effect. The building is intended to house the Foundation for Creation an art museum and cultural centre.
Jennifer Higgie London editor of Frieze a contemporary art magazine explains “The Foundation for Creation looks like it will be an extraordinary building” she adds. “It will give artists writers curators and critics a brilliant new venue to exhibit in and respond to. What’s not to love?”
The foundations opening is not the only event in Paris of significance for art lovers. In the same week as the Foundation for creation opens its doors the Picasso museum will reopen after a five year closure for renovation. The new Picasso museum will be twice the size of the previous museum and it is intended that it will be able to display a large number of the 5000 Picasso sculptures drawings photographs and other archive material which have remained stored out of sight due to a lack of space at the previous museum.
A glass floor adds a new dimension to the Eiffel tower
Another world famous Paris attraction that is getting a facelift this month is the Eiffel Tower.
Millions of families visit the tower each year. In the past the highlight of a trip has always been the viewing platform situated right at the top of the 324 metre structure. The towers owners are hoping that this is about to change. They have redeveloped the first floor of the tower and installed a glass floor that will enable visitors to see 57 metres below them. The glass safety barriers around the outer edge of the tower have been built leaning outwards to provide an extra edge of excitement to the experience of visiting the first floor of the tower.
The new first floor is only a small part of a much wider refit which has taken two years to complete and includes restaurants shops and a museum displaying the history of this most famous of French monuments. Families visiting Paris in the coming months will be among the first to experience the ever evolving history and culture of this European capital city. The newly refitted Eiffel tower and the new Foundation for Creation building mean that this is an exciting time to visit the city and take advantage of everything that Paris has offer.
