FRANK GEHRY

The Tower, a 15.000 sq Arts Resource Center is the centrepiece of LUMA Arles. It will house research and archive facilities, workshop and seminar rooms, and exhibition spaces.

The central organizing element of the new building is a circular glass drum; its shape relates to the Roman Arena in Arles. Like the Arena, the scale and clear geometry of the drum reflects the ancient Roman planning influences that set the foundation of Arles. The Romans used civic buildings to organize the densely situated buildings around it. The drum is both transparent and porous, with walls that open to the surrounding industrial buildings turning it into the central hub of the campus. The building grows out of the centre of the drum and is oriented towards the historic centre of Arles.

source: Claudine Colin Communication