LUMA Arles, the city’s cultural hub, is another example of old buildings being repurposed or giving way to new buildings as times change. Factories, legacies from the industrial 19th century, once stood where the LUMA Arles campus now stands.
At the heart of LUMA Arles is the Frank Gehry Tower. It’s a spectacular building, with Frank Gehry’s signature angular style. The tower features viewing terraces and event spaces.
A room shows an interview with Frank Gehry in which he explains how Arles’ Roman amphitheatre inspired him.
I loved the interior — everything from the unusual library to the viewing platform at the top. After looking at some some of the free exhibitions, I saw an elderly couple preparing to go on the indoor double helter-skelter. I’d seen it on the ground floor but thought it was an art installation! After the couple disappeared, I had a go! I put my legs inside the cloth bag and slid down the spiral slide. It was a bumpy, but exhilarating, ride.
The campus beautifully brings together gardens, sculptures, installations and other artworks.
