The new neighborhood

After a perfect train ride down to Arles yesterday, today was our first day to really spend any time checking out the new neighborhood.

Although we are within one block of an historic, religious site, Alyscamp, where Van Gogh and Gaugin both painted in 1888, we are also now quite close to the new titanium, cement, and glass tower designed by Frank Gehry.  It still isn't finished, and I try not to look at it, but today I walked down to and past it in order to view it in context.

Looking eastward

Looking westward

The tower is named Luma Arles and it is built on an abandoned railroad yard.  Many of the other railroad buildings in the complex are being redone to create huge art studio, gallery, and maker spaces.  This is definitely up-scaling the old railroad yard, but the trains still run on the adjacent tracks.

The base of the tower and more of the re-imagined railroad yard

The railroad and more of the re-imagined old rail yard

Fortunately, one doesn't have to walk too far to return to looking at more classic architecture and designs.

Top of a more traditional building nearby

Ground floor of the same building

Soothing relief for the eyes after looking at the Gehry tower

Classic door pull