design magazine

Article by Konstantinos Deloudis
Posted on February 19th, 2011
in Specials , Frank O. Gehry & Louis Vuitton

The building of the Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation project, designed by one of the world’s most admired architects, Frank Gehry, has been halted. The project was to have symbolized France’s devotion to culture. The designer is said to be feeling ‘distressed, shocked and furious’ by the decision of the French courts after complaints by local residents that the ‘cloud-like’ structure would block a major road.

The Mayor of Paris is outraged at the decision as is architect Jean Nouvel who characterizes ignorance and lack of public pride as the underlying issues behind the objections. Throughout the architectural past of Paris there appears to have been opposition to anything new and innovative. Similar objections were made in the past to the Eiffel Tower, the pyramid at the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre. Formal opposition to the ban has been presented to the authorities and time will tell if the ban will be over-ruled and building can recommence or if the project must be abandoned totally and the structure demolished.