Twelve years after the boutique’s first transformation in Cancún, the Louis Vuitton store presents a new facade that elevates its identity through the expressive possibilities of precast concrete. The design by MATERIA + Gustavo Carmona reinterprets the brand’s iconic flower motif as a sculpted relief that shifts constantly with the play of light and shadow, turning the exterior into a dynamic, sensorial surface. At the heart of the design is a single modular unit, carefully conceived to act both as a structural element and as a vessel for light. When repeated across the facade, this module generates a continuous and vibrant skin that merges precision with rhythm.

all images by Jaime Navarro

Light and Shadow Animate Sculpted Facade of Louis Vuitton store

The composition for Louis Vuitton Cancún boutique by studio MATERIA + Gustavo Carmona creates a strong collective identity while transcending the individuality of each component. The facade recalls the memory of the earlier wooden intervention while advancing into a new material language. More than a storefront, it is an architectural experience that demonstrates how concrete can embody both emotion and detail. By engaging visitors through texture, depth, and atmosphere, the design establishes the facade not only as an element of branding but also as a living presence in the urban fabric of Cancún.

Louis Vuitton Cancún presents a new precast concrete facade

the design reinterprets the brand’s iconic flower motif

sculpted reliefs shift with light and shadow across the surface

a single modular unit forms the basis of the composition

repetition generates a continuous, rhythmic skin

dynamic textures animate the boutique throughout the day

depth and shadow transform the surface into a sensory experience

rhythm and variation emerge from repetition of the unit

the boutique’s identity is expressed through modular form

project info:

name: Louis Vuitton at La Isla
architect: MATERIA + Gustavo Carmona | @_materia

location: Cancún, Mexico

photographer: Jaime Navarro | @jaimenavarrophotography

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Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys is now open at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka, Japan. Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, the exhibition occupies 2,200 square meters of the museum and is organized into eleven thematic galleries. These are grouped into four interconnected zones — history, codes, process behind the craft, and cultural dialogue — that together express the enduring identity of the House.

The exhibition design celebrates spatial variety, with each room conceived as a unique set within a continuous narrative. Shigematsu explains that the scenography aims to translate Louis Vuitton’s legacy into an architectural journey, one that goes beyond objects to explore ideas. Osaka’s long-standing role as a center of trade and craftsmanship in Japan underscores the choice of venue, bringing a contextual layer to the Maison’s exploration of heritage and innovation.

the exhibition spans 2,200 square meters at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art | images courtesy Louis Vuitton

Monumental Interventions in the Museum Atrium

Visitors to Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys first encounter eight monumental lanterns, which the team at OMA suspends from the Osaka museum’s five-story atrium. Each 12.5-meter-tall column stacks trunk-like forms wrapped in Monogram washi paper, arranged in six unique configurations. The lanterns emphasize the verticality of the atrium while casting a soft, diffuse glow, creating a welcoming transition into the exhibition.

Beyond the atrium, the entrance gallery is anchored by a hemispherical installation composed of 138 authentic Louis Vuitton trunks. Mirrored by the glass floor below, the self-supporting structure forms a complete globe, referencing themes of exploration and global exchange. The trunks’ structural integrity alone holds the piece together, exemplifying the balance of strength and lightness that defines the House’s craftsmanship.

a hemispherical globe is built from 138 Louis Vuitton trunks

a celebration of Japanese influences

Speaking to its context in Osaka, Louis Vuitton and OMA prominently feature Japan as both subject and context throughout the exhibition. A dedicated gallery, Louis Vuitton and Japan, examines artistic and cultural exchanges between the brand and the country. The display spans centuries, from traditional garments and samurai armor to contemporary pop culture, all arranged on modular platforms evocative of tatami mats.

Other rooms trace the evolution of Louis Vuitton’s creative codes. In the Origins room, a hand-woven bamboo armature carries the timeline of the Maison’s six historic eras, reflecting a shared respect for craftsmanship. Two galleries are devoted to the Monogram canvas, charting its development from early influences, including Japanese motifs, to its use in contemporary designs.

hand-woven bamboo structures and archival materials highlight LV’s craftsmanship legacy

The Expeditions gallery immerses visitors inside a full-scale inflatable hot-air balloon that doubles as a display structure and projection surface. In the Materials gallery, a dense arrangement of foundational components is presented in a way that appears weightless, giving visitors the sense of peering into an infinite archive. Atelier Rarex, a selection of exceptional pieces, is displayed along a boulevard backdrop modeled on the mansard roofline of Louis Vuitton’s Paris flagship.

The Workshop gallery incorporates arched windows, sawtooth roofs, and workbenches modeled after the House’s Asnières atelier, where craftspeople conduct live demonstrations. Mirrored ‘skylights’ allow these processes to be observed from anywhere in the room. Meanwhile, the Testing gallery introduces visitors to the machinery and protocols behind product durability, bringing the brand’s laboratory into the museum context.

In the Collaborations gallery, four mirrored domes house works by artists and brands such as Stephen Sprouse, Supreme, Yayoi Kusama, and Takashi Murakami. The reflections create a kaleidoscopic environment that reconstitutes each partnership as part of Louis Vuitton’s broader creative ecosystem.

an inflatable hot-air balloon and mirrored displays offer immersive environments for storytelling

a gallery dedicated to Japan explores the brand’s cultural exchanges using tatami-inspired platforms

live workshops and testing galleries recreate the Asnières atelier within the museum

Shohei Shigematsu organizes four zones focused on history, craft, codes, and cultural dialogue

mirrored domes reflect key collaborations in a kaleidoscopic environment of contemporary design

project info:

name: Visionary Journeys

designer: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

exhibition design: Shohei Shigematsu / OMA | @shohei_shigematsu @omanewyork
museum: Nakanoshima Museum of Art | @nakkaart2022

location: Osaka, Japan

dates: July 15th — September 17th, 2025

photography: courtesy Louis Vuitton

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Louis Vuitton unveils The Louis, a monumental structure moored in Shanghai’s central business district. Resembling a modernist ship at anchor, the boat-like building brings together a multi-story flagship store, Le Café Louis Vuitton, and the brand’s Visionary Journeys exhibition, housed within a surreal facade of metallic Monogram hulls and stacked trunks. Located on Wujiang Road, The Louis honors Louis Vuitton’s maritime roots while anchoring itself in Shanghai’s historic identity as a port city.

Visionary Journeys, the multi-room exhibition spanning two floors, is conceived by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA. It opens with Trunkscape, an installation composed of Monogram canvas trunks that curve into an archway, evoking architecture and dreamscape. Originally shown in Bangkok and Osaka (find designboom’s previous coverage here), this iteration draws visitors into a cinematic voyage through Louis Vuitton’s intertwined history with design, innovation, and travel, from the 1859 workshop in Asnières to high-seas regattas and couture-bound steamer trunks. ‘Our installation uses iconic Louis Vuitton trunks in a playful display that intuitively and instantly communicates the Maison’s heritage and spirit of innovation,’ shares Shohei Shigematsu. ‘Conceived to fit the central atrium of the temporary store, the four trunk towers are part structural and part sculptural, familiar in materiality yet foreign in shape, height, and slenderness, created by their distinctly stacked forms. Together, they become a spatial amplifier that feels surreal yet rooted to Louis Vuitton’s origins.’

all images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton draws from transoceanic journeys

The Louis is a space created by Louis Vuitton that encapsulates the spirit of travel and the deep connection of the french house to movement, craftsmanship, and culture. Its design draws inspiration from transoceanic journeys, the kind once made by ocean liners, combining the shape of a ship’s prow with the form of a classic Louis Vuitton steamer trunk. The outside is covered in shimmering metallic Monogram patterns that reflect light like the surface of the sea, making the structure itself a symbol of travel and timeless design.

Inside, visitors are taken on a journey that includes food, shopping, and storytelling through exhibition. Each room is themed to reflect a different chapter in Louis Vuitton’s evolution through historic pieces and creativity.

Louis Vuitton unveils The Louis, a monumental structure moored in Shanghai’s central business district

an oma-designed journey through objects

This journey begins with Origins, a space that features the early designs of the house, reimagined with a contemporary touch. This room sets the tone for the rest of the experience, one that honors tradition while embracing innovation. Next is Voyage, which explores the more whimsical and personal aspects of travel through archival patents, stories from famous clients, and custom-made items. Olfactive Exploration focuses on fragrance and puts on display rare perfume bottles from as far back as 1927 alongside scents crafted by in-house perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud.

Moving on, Books and Sport shows how the brand functions as both storyteller and companion across many worlds. From Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s love of literature and publishing to its role in creating elegant trophy trunks for global events like Formula 1 and the Olympics. In Fashion & Leather Goods, the house’s creative metamorphosis takes center stage, spotlighting classic bags reinterpreted by artistic directors including Marc Jacobs, Virgil Abloh, and Pharrell Williams. Workshop and Testing pull visitors into the behind-the-scenes world of Louis Vuitton craftsmanship, where tools nicknamed Louise and Louisette help make sure that each piece meets rigorous standards. Perched on the third floor, Le Café Louis Vuitton brings a refined take on Shanghai-style dining, a fusion of East and West shaped by chefs Leonardo Zambrino and Zoe Zhou.

The opening of The Louis in Shanghai ties Louis Vuitton’s roots in travel to the role of the city as a longtime port of exchange, reflecting on how objects carry meaning over time.

resembling a modernist ship at anchor, the boat-like building brings together multiple uses

a surreal facade of metallic Monogram hulls

The Louis honors Louis Vuitton’s maritime roots

the project anchors itself in Shanghai’s historic identity as a port city

the design draws inspiration from transoceanic journeys, the kind once made by ocean liners

Visionary Journeys is the multi-room exhibition spanning two floors

the exhibition’s design is conceived by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA

Trunkscape is composed of Monogram canvas trunks that curve into an archway

Olfactive Exploration puts on display rare perfume bottles

Books and Sport shows how the brand functions as both storyteller and companion across many worlds

Origins features the early designs of the house

the behind-the-scenes world of Louis Vuitton craftsmanship

Origins sets the tone for the rest of the experience

project info:

name: The Louis

brand: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

architect: Shohei Shigematsu / OMA | @omanewyork, @shohei_shigematsu

location: Wujiang Road, Jing’an district, Shanghai, China

The post louis vuitton ship brings flagship and OMA-designed exhibition to shanghai appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

A sprawling game board of Snakes and Ladders set the stage for Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show just outside of The Centre Pompidou. Conceived by Indian architect Bijoy Jain, founder of Studio Mumbai, the scenography reimagined the square as a playground of possibility during Paris Fashion Week, a giant geometric playing field animated by earthen hues and tactile details that visitors moved through and around.

Marking his first collaboration with Louis Vuitton, Jain worked closely with men’s creative director Pharrell Williams, who cited South Asia as a key inspiration for the collection. Drawing from the game’s ancient origins in India, Jain described his vision for the installation as ‘a cosmic diagram… like a mandala, set in the idea of a game where everybody has to ascend.’

all images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

the runway nods to the collection’s south asian inspiration

Studio Mumbai’s recognized architectural approach to design and context comes through in the set’s execution, composed of earthen tones and textures that elevate the beloved board game into a vast spatial experience. The show is staged across a sprawling 2,700-square-meter grid, with several vibrant serpents cutting through, their paths crossing with textile-rendered ladders that beckoned ascension. During the evening the soft palette glows beneath the Pompidou’s iconic postmodern facade. ‘That’s set in this idea of a game where everybody has to ascend,’ notes architect Bijoy Jain.

Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear was unveiled just outside of The Centre Pompidou

a sprawling game board of Snakes and Ladders set the stage for the show

conceived by Indian architect Bijoy Jain, founder of Studio Mumbai

the scenography reimagined the square as a playground of possibility during Paris Fashion Week

drawing from the game’s ancient origins in India, Jain described his vision for the installation as ‘a cosmic diagram’

marking his first collaboration with Louis Vuitton, Jain worked closely with men’s creative director Pharrell Williams

composed of earthen tones and textures that elevate the beloved board game into a vast spatial experience

staged across a sprawling 2,700-square-meter grid, with several vibrant serpents cutting through

project info:

name: Louis Vuitton SS26 Menswear collection

fashion brand: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

set design: Bijoy Jain — Studio Mumbai

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For the France Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Louis Vuitton, and OMA / Shohei Shigematsu reveal a dual installation that transcends exhibition and immersive architecture. Housed within the French Pavilion’s overarching theme, ‘A Hymn to Love,’ the collaboration carves out two distinct experiences — one rooted in heritage and the other propelled by imagination — inviting visitors to explore the enduring tension between tradition and transformation.

The first of the pavilion‘s two interconnected spaces presents a towering archive of savoir-faire. Stacked from floor to ceiling, eighty-four open wardrobe trunks define the room’s architecture, creating a glowing chamber that both stores and displays the brand’s 160-year legacy of craft. Each trunk is fitted with bespoke compartments showcasing videos of craftspeople at work, transforming this ‘library’ into a living museum of technique. Warmly backlit like a lantern, the installation transitions from bright openness to subdued mystery, reinforcing the symbolic arc from past to present.

photography by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy Louis Vuitton

the Rotating ‘Theater of the Future’ at expo 2025 osaka

In the second room of Expo 2025 Osaka‘s France Pavilion, Louis Vuitton and the architects at OMA shift gears with a performative sphere — a monumental 6.6-meter globe composed entirely of the brand‘s white Courrier Lozine trunks. The globe levitates within a double-height space, rotating and moving vertically in sync with a hypnotic video installation by Daito Manabe. Unlike the introspective first room, this kinetic environment evokes a futuristic theater, enveloping visitors in motion, light, and sound. The sculptural object draws on Expo iconography while reimagining the trunk, Louis Vuitton’s original design module, as a metaphor for exploration and reinvention.

Here, the trunk becomes more than just a container — it’s a building block. Shigematsu’s concept interlocks opposing spatial narratives: archive and theater, preservation and performance. ‘We created two contrasting spaces with one module, the trunk,’ the architect explains. ‘One is built from stacked open trunks, the other a sphere made from trunks. Interlocked, the two juxtapose tradition and transformation.’ The gesture also reflects a deeper cultural resonance between France and Japan, emphasizing shared values of craftsmanship, precision, and innovation.

Louis Vuitton and OMA create a dual installation for the France Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka

the pavilion presents a glowing library of stacked LV trunks filled with artisan stories

eighty-four trunks are stacked to become immersive display modules

heritage craft is contrasted with a digital voyage

a 6.6 meter globe is built from white monogram trunks

the iconic trunk is reimagined as both archive and stage

louis vuitton and OMA emphasize france and japan’s shared design values

project info:

name: Louis Vuitton Visionary Journeys, France Pavilion

architecture: OMA | @omanewyork, Shohei Shigematsu | @shohei_shigematsu

collaborator: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

event: Expo 2025 Osaka | @expo2025japan

photography: © Marco Cappelletti, courtesy Louis Vuitton

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Two decades after their collaboration, Louis Vuitton and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami reunite for a bold pop-up in New York’s Soho. Open throughout January 2025, the pop-up hosts the Louis Vuitton x Murakami Re-Edition, which revives iconic motifs from the 2003 partnership and reimagines the original collection. Inspired by Tokyo’s modular capsule hotels, distinct zones separate the interior, each with a purpose and vibrant color palette, linked by a central corridor.

Part of a worldwide series of activations spanning seven cities, including London, Seoul, Milan, and Tokyo, the Soho pop-up is the only fully dedicated space for the re-edition in the US, showcasing Chapter One of the capsule and offering a curated mix of retail, exhibition, restoration services, and a cinema experience. The original collaboration, spearheaded by then-artistic director Marc Jacobs, introduced the kaleidoscopic Monogram Multicolore, a vibrant reinterpretation of Louis Vuitton’s classic monogram featuring 33 vivid hues. Murakami’s playful aesthetic brought forth beloved characters like the whimsical Superflat Panda and cheerful Flower Smileys. These motifs are now reimagined across over 170 creations, ranging from leather bags and accessories to footwear and collectible items.

images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

the collaboration reimagines iconic pieces of the french house

This re-edition breathes new life into Louis Vuitton’s iconic pieces. The Speedy, Alma BB, and Dauphine Soft bags showcase the updated Monogram Multicolore, available in vibrant white or striking black. Murakami’s character Superflat Panda graces items like sneakers, keyrings, and even skateboards. The collection also features collector’s items, such as a made-to-order Malle Wardrobe containing 33 Speedy bags and revamped perfume bottles adorned with the Superflat Garden design. Customers who make a purchase receive a token to activate a giant vending machine dispensing limited-edition stickers, trading cards, and Takashi Murakami Flower Go Walk portable games. Adjacent to the retail area, an exhibition showcases archival pieces from the original collaboration, including rare designs like the Monogram Cerise and the Multicolore Franges, offering a nostalgic look at the partnership’s impact on fashion history.

two decades after their collaboration, Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami reunite for a bold re-edition pop-up

a series of experiences composes the colorful interior

Underscoring the French fashion house’s commitment to sustainability, the Soho pop-up includes a care station area that offers restoration services for original Louis Vuitton x Murakami pieces. Visitors can observe the processes as skilled artisans clean, restore, and replace parts to extend the life of these creations. Downstairs, a cinema space screens remastered versions of Murakami’s Superflat Monogram film (2003) and Superflat First Love (2009). The films weave a fantastical journey through Louis Vuitton’s world, featuring characters like Panda, Flower Hat Man, and Onion Head, alongside Aya, the young heroine of Murakami’s animated tales. From January 10th until January 12th, visitors can enjoy a café experience adorned with Murakami’s signature flower cushions.

open throughout January 2025, the pop-up hosts the Louis Vuitton x Murakami Re-Edition

inspired by Tokyo’s modular capsule hotels

offering a curated mix of retail, exhibition, restoration services, and a cinema experience

each space within the pop-up has its own purpose and vibrant color palette

adjacent to the retail area, an exhibition showcases archival pieces from the original collaboration

customers who make a purchase receive a token to activate a giant vending machine

the Soho pop-up includes a care station area that offers restoration services

downstairs, a cinema space screens remastered versions of Murakami’s films

project info: 

name: Louis Vuitton x Murakami Re-Edition Pop-up Store

design: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton x Takashi Murakami | @takashipom

location: 104 Prince Street, Soho, New York, USA

dates: January 1–31, 2025

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Louis Vuitton is officially opening its new 57th Street retail space, merges fashion, culture, and hospitality. Temporarily located at 6 East 57th Street while its 5th Avenue flagship undergoes renovation, this store offers New Yorkers a multi-faceted shopping experience. Featuring an exclusive collection of items, a café, and a chocolate shop, the store will showcase Louis Vuitton’s heritage within sculptural interiors designed in collaboration with Shohei Shigematsu of OMA. 

Louis Vuitton’s long-standing connection to New York dates back to 1898 when the House began selling its products in the U.S. The brand opened its first standalone store in New York City on 57th Street in 1980. Now, this new 57th Street location continues the brand’s tradition of blending ‘French art de vivre’ with New York’s metropolitan energy. The store opens on November 15th, 2024 to become the largest Louis Vuitton space in the United States.

images © Louis Vuitton

a towering atrium of soaring sculptures

Located near the Fifth Avenue and 57th Street corner, the Louis Vuitton store occupies a landmark Art Deco building known for its large arched windows. The facade showcases a carousel-themed holiday design, with a ground-level exhibit highlighting moving carousel animals beneath a towering arched transom window. This is framed by a grand giraffe and ostrich, all set against a glittering backdrop of lights shaped like monogram flowers.

The store’s interior introduces visitors to a grand atrium. Designed in collaboration with designer Shohei Shigematsu of architecture studio OMA, this installation brings the French brand’s trunk-making heritage to life in the form of towering sculptures. Each of the four towers rises sixteen meters. Iconic Courrier Lozine 90 trunks are stacked and aligned to form twisting, zigzagging structures. Materials like Monogram canvas and metallic finishes bring out Louis Vuitton’s iconic designs.

The atrium offers more than just towering trunks; a 16-meter-high wall made of mirrored Louis Vuitton bags creates a sculptural architectural feature. This wall, built from rows of alternating Keepall and Speedy bags, adds rhythm and movement to the store’s design. Alongside, oversized murals display the patterns of Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami, nodding to the brand’s collaborations and its ongoing reinterpretation of classic motifs.

interiors include repurposed furniture and locally sourced artwork

A Five-Floor Exploration of Louis Vuitton

Across four of the five floors, each section opens up into the central atrium, allowing natural light and an open, airy feel. Louis Vuitton’s commitment to sustainability is visible in the store’s design choices. Furniture from the previous location has been repurposed here, while newly curated pieces include collectible vintage and modern designs from noted creators like Carlo Mollino and Charlotte Perriand. Artwork by American and NYC-based artists, such as Todd Eberle and Caio Fonseca, adds a local touch to the interiors, bridging luxury and a sense of place.

The store’s layout dedicates each floor to specific Louis Vuitton categories. The first floor features an extensive selection of leather goods, including bags, accessories, and travel items, with on-site artisans for personalization. The second floor presents the women’s collection, while the third floor is dedicated to the men’s line. The fifth floor offers private lounges and showcases the Art de la Table and Objets Nomades collections. This floor also includes an exclusive “secret room,” where high jewelry and timepieces are displayed in a loft-inspired setting.

the store’s fourth floor includes Le Café Louis Vuitton, a café and library with books curated by Ian Luna

a fusion of culture and cuisine

On the fourth floor, visitors encounter Le Café Louis Vuitton, a café and library concept. Designed with a warm, loft-inspired atmosphere, the café features wall-to-wall books curated by editor Ian Luna, with a focus on New York artists and themes. Shelves display about 650 titles, including selections from Louis Vuitton Editions, reflecting art, architecture, and fashion.

Louis Vuitton brings the culinary expertise of French chefs Arnaud Donckele and Maxime Frédéric to New York in a way that is refined but approachable. Collaborating with local chefs Christophe Bellanca and Mary George, the café offers an inventive menu of luxury snacks, from truffle raviolis embossed with the flower Monogram to Damier-patterned tartlets. This concept will bring a casual yet sophisticated dining experience with French and New York influences.

a grand atrium hosts a unique installation of sixteen-meter-high trunk towers

each floor is dedicated to a specific category, from leather goods to menswear

For chocolate lovers, Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric debuts its first U.S. location here, offering signature chocolates crafted by Frédéric’s team in Paris. From classic chocolate bars to playful creations like the Vivienne on a Malle, this chocolate line incorporates premium ingredients sourced from France, Vietnam, and beyond. Each piece celebrates Louis Vuitton’s meticulous attention to detail and high standards in quality and flavor.

To celebrate this store opening, Louis Vuitton introduces a capsule collection inspired by New York City’s iconic style. Highlights include the Neverfull Inside Out in a taxi-yellow color, a Speedy Soft bag with vibrant tags, and the Capucines, paneled with skyscraper motifs. The men’s collection features pieces inspired by the city’s license plates, bringing in a nod to Louis Vuitton’s heritage with the playful phrase, ‘LV since 1854.’

a wall of mirrored Louis Vuitton bags adds rhythm and movement to the store’s architecture

renowned chefs Arnaud Donckele and Maxime Frédéric collaborate with local chefs

the store debuts Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric in the U.S., offering artisanal chocolates

project info:

project title: Louis Vuitton 57th Street

opening: November 15th, 2024

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For Art Basel Paris 2024, Louis Vuitton celebrates Frank Gehry by bringing his monumental white fish lamp and more inside the Grand Palais. The lighting adorns the Balcon d’Honneur of the palace and illuminates the space at night, and a wooden arch made of slats in geometric patterns encircles the fish lamp, which Frank Gehry also exhibited at Gagosian New York. The exhibition is the Maison’s homage to many of the architect’s designs and works with them, on view at the Grand Palais from October 18th to 20th for the 2024 edition of Art Basel Paris.

Frank Gehry and Louis Vuitton have had 20 years of collaboration. The architect, artist, and designer is the mastermind behind Maison Louis Vuitton Seoul, which opened its doors in 2019, featuring its glass-covered exterior and fluid lines. He also created a collection of stoppers for the Maison’s Les Extraits perfume bottles in 2021, as well as reimagined ones for the 2022 Les Editions d’Art, this time made from Murano glass. In 2023, Louis Vuitton presented Frank Gehry’s debut collection of handbags at Art Basel Miami, all inspired by his portfolio of architecture.

all images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Louis vuitton brings frank gehry’s handbag collection to paris

Frank Gehry’s white fish lamp in the Grand Palais is accompanied by a series of his many collaborations with Louis Vuitton, including his handbag collection at Art Basel Miami in 2023. In Paris, the Maison encases these bags in glass for visitors to see firsthand. They’re inspired by the architect’s style, which often exudes flowing lines and ballooned or reconfigured shapes. As visitors roam around, they catch sight of the Capucines Mini Blossom and Mini Puzzle bags and their colored surfaces, harking back to the architect’s take on transparency and botanical-plant shapes.

The other bags, namely the Capucines MM Concrete Pockets, BB Shimmer Haze, and BB Analog, take direct inspiration from the buildings he designed, including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle; and the IAC Building in New York City. There’s a totemic animal symbol on the limited-edition collection, which appears on the handbags in varying forms. They seem like fish scales, as seen in his hanging lamp, or like an alligator, as seen in the handle of the BB Croc bag.

for Art Basel Paris 2024, Louis Vuitton celebrates Frank Gehry through an exhibition

‘Twisted trunk’ box version of the monogram canvas trunk

Louis Vuitton may be much more recognizable for their Monogram canvas trunk, and it’s a fated meeting between two icons in their respective fields the moment Frank Gehry designed his iteration of it in 2014. It’s the Celebrating Monogram collection, and the architect released it for the Maison’s 160th anniversary. 

The look of his Twisted Box trunk reveals exactly how the name sounds: it’s semi-deformed, on the verge of a twist. Visitors to Art Basel Paris and Grand Palais are afforded this Louis Vuitton trunk design, and when they have enough time to stay one of the nights between October 18th and 20th, they may be able to see the white fish lamp glow.

the exhibition showcases many of Frank Gehry’s works with and for Louis Vuitton

arch made of wooden slats around the fish lamp

the fish lamps have been shown in a Gagosian exhibition in New York

detailed view of the fish lamp, illuminated at night

inside Grand Palais during Art Basel Paris 2024

the making of Capucines Mini Blossom handbag

detailed view of the paper crafting

the exhibition is on view until October 20th, 2024

project info:

architect: Frank Gehry | @frankgehry_official

maison: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

event: Art Basel Paris 2024 | @artbasel

venue: Grand Palais, Paris, France

dates: October 18th to 20th, 2024

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Louis Vuitton takes over a Park Avenue townhouse in New York City with Crafting Dreams, an exhibition showcasing the best of the Maison’s craftsmanship and heritage. Open by private appointment only from April 12th to May 5th, Crafting Dreams offers an exclusive opportunity to explore the Louis Vuitton universe within the massive Upper East Side home. This ambitious undertaking marks Louis Vuitton’s most extensive display of savoir-faire ever presented in the city.

Crafting Dreams brings together a seemingly endless collection of Louis Vuitton’s most celebrated creations in New York. Visitors will have the chance to explore Objets Nomades design objects, hard-sided trunks, timepieces, fine jewelry, and leather goods. The exhibition also features interactive demonstrations and opportunities to personalize pieces with the Maison’s artisans.

Crafting Dreams offers a private exhibition in an Upper East Side townhouse | images © Brad Dickson

louis vuitton transforms a century-old townhouse

The venue for Crafting Dreams is a 1926-built seven-story townhouse on Park Avenue in New York. Throughout the space, visitors will encounter a signature element of Louis Vuitton‘s heritage: Malletage. This distinctive crisscrossed, padded lining, originally designed to safeguard precious contents within trunks during travel, manifests as a graphic ‘X’ pattern incorporated throughout the interior design. This subtle transformation creates a dialogue between the historic townhouse and the Maison’s heritage.

Over the course of its three-week run, Crafting Dreams offers a variety of engaging experiences that illuminate the history, craftsmanship, and creative possibilities behind the exquisite pieces on display. For opening weekend, Louis Vuitton designers from Paris were present, offering a unique opportunity to create entirely bespoke hardsided trunks tailored to individual needs and preferences. Later on, a Malletage expert from the Maison’s historic French workshops will demonstrate this specialized technique live, lending a glimpse into the artistry behind Louis Vuitton’s creations.

explore iconic trunks, Objets Nomades, jewelry, and leather goods

discover american debuts

Crafting Dreams serves as a platform to unveil several pieces for the first time in North America. This includes the highly anticipated Millionaires Speedy 40 by Men’s Creative Director Pharrell Williams. Designed for his debut collection for Louis Vuitton (Spring/Summer 2024), this piece features 18K gold hardware and a hand-painted monogram that took sixty-five hours to complete, all presented within a bespoke hardsided trunk. The Millionaires Speedy represents the first collaboration between the Maison’s high-end métiers, solidifying its position as a true masterpiece.

collaborate with Louis Vuitton artisans to personalize pieces or witness a live Malletage demonstration

The exhibition encompasses the full breadth of Louis Vuitton’s expertise. The original Louis Vuitton product, hardsided trunks, will take center stage, including the Capucines Trunk, designed specifically to house the Maison’s signature bag. Design lovers will loved the mosaic mirrored Campana Disco Cocoon chair from the Objets Nomades collection, making its American debut. The exhibition also features new summer pieces, including surfboards and tableware. From the Women’s universe, high jewelry and timepieces by Francesca Amfitheatrof, the Maison’s Artistic Director of Watches and Jewelry, will be showcased alongside garments crafted from Louis Vuitton’s finest materials using intricate processes.

the townhouse is transformed with Louis Vuitton’s signature Malletage design, a tribute to its trunk-making legacy
high jewelry and timepieces are displayed alongside intricate garments

discover the mosaic mirrored Campana Disco Cocoon chair

on display are detailed garments, hard-sided trunk sets, and footwear designed by Pharrell Williams

the exhibition is open by private appointment only from April 12th to May 5th

project info:

exhibition title: Crafting Dreams

design house: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

location: Park Avenue, New York, NY

on view: April 12th — May 5th, 2024

photography: © Brad Dickson | @braddicksonimages

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Louis Vuitton introduces Frank Gehry’s first-ever High Watchmaking timepiece topped with translucent sapphire crystal, making the rose gold- and rhodium-plated gears, plate, and flying tourbillon stand out. The watch follows the architect’s handbag collection with the French fashion house during Art Basel Miami in 2023, and it also forms part of the Louis Vuitton High Watchmaking series, which bears the mark of the Poinçon de Genève, an independent institution that certifies the manufacturing and finishing of all the components that go into watchmaking.

images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Frank Gehry’s Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon watch with Louis Vuitton is the first timepiece with a sapphire dial and case to bear the Poinçon de Genève seal, created, developed, and assembled by the artisans and watchmakers at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in Geneva. The timepiece springs from the collaboration between La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and architect Frank Gehry, inspired by the latter’s designs for the Maison, namely the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the recently opened Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul.

Frank Gehry’s signature adorns the case back alongside the Poinçon de Genève seal

It is the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul where Frank Gehry drew his design influences for his Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon watch with sapphire crystal. For the Seoul Maison, he created a rippling glass structure that appears to float over the roof of the building, an allusion to the movement of a boat’s sails. It runs in the same vein as the architect’s work for the Fondation Louis Vuitton, where he built a glass ship. Frank Gerhy brings them together in his first-ever watch (limited only to five pieces), downsizing them to create a miniature scale that wraps around the wearer’s wrist. ‘My inspiration comes from the sea, fish, boats, and the nautical world because they embody the notion of movement, mobility, speed,’ Frank Gehry says  at the grand opening of the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul. ‘I like to express movement, inject this energy and dynamic into static materials.’

artisans at the La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton took 250 hours to produce the dial alone

Over 250 hours of craftsmanship with louis vuitton’s artisans

La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton crafted sapphire into the crystalline face of Frank Gehry’s Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon watch, sourced from a single 200-kilo block of the crystal. The case, dial, crown, lugs, and hands have all been cut from this gem, which is dubbed the hardest in the world after diamond, and artisans at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton took 250 hours to produce the dial alone, which is no thicker than a sheet of paper. Manual craftsmanship was put into play to sculpt and realize Frank Gehry’s architectural designs for the flying tourbillon watch. The dial makers even used medical tools just to reproduce the asymmetric forms and curved swirls that hark back to Frank Gehry’s design ethos in his architectural works.

Louis Vuitton sculpted sapphire for Frank Gehry’s Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon watch

rose gold- and rhodium-plated gears and flying tourbillon

In the end, the sculpted sapphire glass puts forward the rose gold- and rhodium-plated gears, plate and flying tourbillon’ meticulous detailing inside the watch, including the chamfering and satin finishes. Frank Gehry’s Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon comes with an 80-hour power reserve, and this hand-wound mechanical movement displays a Monogram Flower within the tourbillon carriage. The architect’s signature adorns the case back alongside the Poinçon de Genève seal.  After designing the Fondation Louis Vuitton building in Paris in 2014 and the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul in 2019, Frank Gehry agreed to take on creating the first High Watchmaking timepiece of his career. The resulting watch may testify that he made the right and conscious decision.

the dial makers even used medical tools to reproduce the architectural styles Frank Gehry

project info:

name: Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon De Genève Sapphire

architect: Frank Gehry

maison: Louis Vuitton

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