Read on FashionNetwork.comBernard Arnault Honors the Legacy of Architect Frank Gehry
LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault has paid tribute to the late architect Frank Gehry, who passed away at age 96. Arnault described Gehry as a 'very dear friend' and 'genius,' highlighting their profound creative partnership that produced the iconic Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. This architectural masterpiece, costing approximately €800 million, is considered the most significant contemporary building commissioned by a luxury brand. Arnault's homage underscores Gehry's lasting impact on luxury design and culture.
The world of architecture and luxury lost a titan with the passing of Frank Gehry, the visionary Canadian-born architect who died in Los Angeles on Friday at the age of 96. In response, Bernard Arnault, the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has issued a moving public homage, mourning the loss of a close collaborator and celebrating a legacy that profoundly shaped the intersection of high art and commerce. This tribute highlights a unique partnership that yielded one of the 21st century's most striking cultural landmarks.
A Profound Creative Partnership
In his statement, Arnault expressed deep personal and professional grief. "I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Frank Gehry, in whom I lose a very dear friend and for whom I shall forever retain boundless admiration," Arnault said. He characterized their collaboration as "one of the longest, most intense, and most ambitious creative partnerships I have ever had the privilege to experience." Arnault further lauded Gehry's Pritzker Prize-winning career, remembering him as "a genius of lightness, transparency, and grace." This language underscores a relationship that transcended a typical client-architect dynamic, rooted in mutual respect and a shared ambition to create enduring art.
The Crown Jewel: Fondation Louis Vuitton
The centerpiece of the Arnault-Gehry collaboration is the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Inaugurated in October 2014 in the presence of then-French President François Hollande, the building is a masterpiece of Deconstructivist architecture. With a reported construction cost of around €800 million, the foundation is widely regarded as the most important work of contemporary architecture ever commissioned by a luxury brand. Gehry synthesized influences from late 19th-century French glass architecture, like the Grand Palais, with advanced computer technology and 3D design. The result, situated on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, is a structure whose form evokes a giant sailboat catching the wind.
Gehry's Enduring Influence on LVMH
Arnault emphasized that Gehry's influence extended far beyond a single building. "Frank Gehry - who possessed an unparalleled gift for shaping forms, pleating glass like canvas, making it dance like a silhouette - will long endure as a living source of inspiration for Louis Vuitton as well as for all the maisons of the LVMH group," he stated. Gehry's work for the conglomerate included designing several Louis Vuitton stores and handbags. Furthermore, at the time of his passing, he had two additional projects in development for the brand: a super-store concept on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, slated to open in two years, and an adjacent structure beside the existing Fondation Louis Vuitton. Arnault credited Gehry with bestowing upon Paris and France "his greatest masterpiece" through the foundation.
Legacy of a Master Builder
Frank Gehry's career was marked by iconic structures that redefined city skylines and cultural expectations. Beyond the Fondation Louis Vuitton, his masterpieces include the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao—often cited as his magnum opus—and the highly acclaimed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. His passing concludes a remarkable 70-year career that pushed the boundaries of architectural form and material. Arnault concluded his homage by extending condolences on behalf of his family to Gehry's wife, Berta, and his children, marking a personal end to a historic professional relationship.
The tribute from one of the world's most influential business leaders to one of its most celebrated architects signifies more than a personal loss. It marks the closing of a chapter where audacious artistic vision and corporate patronage merged to create a lasting cultural monument. The Fondation Louis Vuitton stands as a permanent testament to their shared ambition, ensuring Gehry's legacy of "lightness, transparency, and grace" will inspire future generations within the world of luxury and beyond.
