LUMA arles, with its frank gehry-designed tower, prepares for june 2021 opening

a twisting geometric structure designed by frank gehry forms the centerpiece of ‘LUMA arles‘, a 27-acre creative campus that plans to open to the public on june 26, 2021. located in arles, a city on the rhône river in the provence region of southern france, the sculptural tower will house exhibition galleries, project space, and research and archive facilities alongside workshop and seminar rooms. the campus is also home to seven former railway factories, four of which have been renovated by selldorf architects as exhibition and performance spaces. meanwhile, the surrounding gardens and public park are being designed by landscape architect, bas smets.

LUMA tower by frank gehry, january 2021
 | image © adrian deweerdt

LUMA arles is the brainchild of maja hoffmann, who established the LUMA foundation in 2004 as a philanthropic organization. dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to experiment in the production of new work, the foundation focuses on the direct relationships between art, culture, environmental issues, human rights, education, and research. ‘there is one driving-metaphor for LUMA at the parc des ateliers: that of a living organism,’ hoffmann says. ‘as such the balance between form and function determines its viability. it is about composing a polyphonic score where everything is ordered, yet where everything is possible.’

LUMA tower by frank gehry, january 2021
 | image © adrian deweerdt

the city of arles became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1981, incorporating its roman and romanesque legacy which includes the monumental arles amphitheater, the alyscamps, and the antique theater. finished with 11,000 stainless steel panels, the 15,000 square meter tower has been designed to reflect this rich history. ‘we wanted to evoke the local, from van gogh’s ‘starry night’ to the soaring rock clusters you find in the region,’ gehry explains. ‘its central drum echoes the plan of the roman amphitheater.’

aerial view of LUMA arles, september 2020
 | image © hervé hôte

from 2008 to 2020, the development of the campus has been led by maja hoffmann working with a small dedicated team, and the collective input from a core group of advisers including beatrix ruf, hans ulrich obrist, and philippe parreno. LUMA has already commissioned and presented the work of more than 100 artists and innovators at sites in arles, including the ancient roman amphitheater and the LUMA arles campus. subject to the latest government guidelines in connection with COVID-19, LUMA arles will open on june 26, 2021. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

aerial view of LUMA arles, june 2019
 | image © dronimages

project info:

name: LUMA arles
location: arles, france
design team: frank gehry, selldorf architects, bas smets
client: LUMA foundation
status: set to open june 26, 2021 (COVID-19 precautions permitting)