Fondation Louis Vuitton Construction: A Technical Narrative

A behind-the-scenes view of timber arches, steel joints, and glass sails at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

1/21/2026

19 min read

Wood Arches Steel Joint Internal Roof

Overview

Inside the making of the Fondation Louis Vuitton: wood arches, steel joints, glass sails—coordination at architectural and craft scales.

Phasing Table

Phase	Scope
Foundations	Substructure, services
Timber Arches	Fabrication, erection
Steel Ribs	Connection + stability
Glass Sails	Panelization + install

Note: Digital coordination aligned shop drawings with on-site tolerances.

Field Notes

Tolerances refined per interface.
Crane lifts sequenced to reduce rework.
Test panels validate color livery.

Craft & Computation

Cardboard/wood models inform digital rationalization.
CATIA coordinates complex joints and ribs.

Checklist

Verify tolerances at each interface.
Sequence lifts to reduce rework.
Align livery with test panels.

À propos de l’auteur

Paris Culture Desk

J’ai écrit ce guide pour que votre visite à la Fondation Louis Vuitton soit paisible, curieuse et bien rythmée — sans manquer ce qui fait la singularité du bâtiment de Gehry.