Up close, the tower isn’t a 'shape'—it’s a thousand micro-decisions of panel, seam, and glare, arguing with the sun.
Frank Gehry-designed tower in Arles, France.
Featured in Frank Gehry's definitive monograph, Building Art: Life and Work of Frank Gehry.
Visitor Guide
Look for the moment when the cladding stops reading as metal and starts reading as atmosphere—move until the reflections break.
Terrace level—shoot outward toward Arles near sunset; for façade studies, shoot from ground level in late afternoon when the panels turn into a faceted gradient.
Yes, generally via LUMA Arles admissions/visiting system; tower access and terraces can be subject to hours/reservations and seasonal ticketing. If you can’t get inside, the best free alternative is prolonged exterior study from multiple distances within Parc des Ateliers.
The tower’s 'randomness' is tightly controlled: panel geometry and reflectivity are calibrated so the building reads differently by hour—not by accident, by specification.
60–120 minutes (tower-focused)
Design & Structure
Freeform massing rationalized into repeatable-but-varied panels—digital surface control feeding fabrication and installation sequencing. Think of it as a material computation project disguised as sculpture.
Metal cladding engineered for reflectance; glass strategically placed for view moments; structure tuned to hold irregular perimeter geometry without visual 'fixes'.
Irregular perimeter + vertical stacking demands careful load transfer and stiffness; the cladding system must accommodate movement while keeping seams visually intentional.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with LUMA Tower — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by Frank Gehry
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Yale University
Princeton University
Hennessy
University of Cincinnati
The Guardian
Yale New Haven Hospital
Nearby in Arles
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed LUMA Tower?+
LUMA Tower was designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 2021. It is located in Arles, France.
Where is LUMA Tower located?+
LUMA Tower is located in Arles, France. Its coordinates are 43.6743°, 4.6367°.
When was LUMA Tower built?+
LUMA Tower was completed in 2021. It was designed by Frank Gehry.
Can I visit LUMA Tower?+
LUMA Tower is a real building in Arles that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.