Saint-Gobain glass clads the Louis Vuitton Foundation

Designed by the architect Frank Gehry and located just outside the Bois de Boulogne (Paris, France), it opened its doors to the public on October 27.    For the façades, 3,500m² of Saint-Gobain Glass glazing was processed by Glassolutions CZ in Brno (Czech Republic), notably the extra-clear SGG DIAMANT glass which allows visitors to fully enjoy the Jardin d’Acclimatation surrounding the edifice.In the auditorium, CLIMAPLUS SILENCE double-glazing ensures acoustic comfort. For the roof, a combination of extra-clear SGG DIAMANT glass, low-e SGG PLANITHERM glass and solar-control SGG COOL-LITE SKN 172 glass screen-printed by Glassolutions (The Netherlands) provides optimum solar control. The glass used in the “sails” in the over-roof was supplied by another glassmaker. All in all, more than 2,000 glass panels were delivered, with 1,600 of them varying in shape and size: a real exploit in terms of production and logistics!

In addition, 1,100 m² of Vetrotech Saint-Gobain fire-protection glass, with fire-retardant properties of up to 60 and 90 minutes, contributes to the building’s safety. The Foundation’s construction site adopted an exemplary environmental approach and was chosen as a pilot project for drawing up the new HQE^® reference framework dedicated to cultural buildings.

Saint-Gobain and Frank Gehry have worked together before, collaborating on the InterActiveCorp headquarters’ project in New York. In the form of a ship, the Foundation symbolizes France’s cultural vocation.

© Arch.: Frank O. Gehry; Ph.: meunierd/Shutterstock.com