Louis Vuitton taps Peter Marino for its Place Vendôme homecoming
What could be more fitting as a symbol of rebirth in the City of Light, than a golden sun streaming spiralling metal rays? That’s the resplendent installation that Louis Vuitton visual creative director Faye Mcleod conceived for the façade of the maison’s new Peter Marino-designed Paris flagship. The store, which opens today, is spread across two historic hôtel particuliers – designed in 1714 by Versailles architect Jules Hardouin- Mansart – and is located in the Place Vendôme, where the young founder of the storied house first opened his trunk shop 160 years ago.
It’s a space that reflects the evolution of a house, which began as a specialist luggage supplier to aristocrats, including the Empress Eugénie de Montijo. The new two-storey boutique boasts not just leather goods, textiles, fragrance, jewellery and men’s and women’s ready to wear, but also its first savoir-faire corner, and its only dedicated home for its Objets Nomades collection of travel-inspired products. Each light-filled floor is connected by a staircase carved from 18th-century stone, complete with sleek glass balustrades, suspended by stainless steel cables.
‘I thought I would juxtapose a modern aesthetic to everything within the walls and restore as beautifully and faithfully as possible the exterior,’ Marino explains of the space’s design elements. ‘The balance between modern and old, is for me, what Paris is all about’.
This duality, too, is a reflection of Louis Vuitton. Nodding to its rich heritage, two of the maison’s most notable trunks are on display: a Library Trunk, ordered in 1933 by the Hollywood screenwriter Mrs W, and the 1917 Steamer Trunk, owned by Mr O, an admired Parisian jeweller. And what could be more symbolic of the brand’s future than the creation of an exclusive version of its Tambour Moon Tourbillon Volant ‘Poinçon de Genève’ timepiece, made with 296 diamonds on its movement and case.
Light was an essential element of Marino’s design, which features extensive windows and doors which encourage the space to feel airy and exuberant. ‘The ultramodern insertions bring an element of transparency, increasing the flow of natural light within the space,’ he says. ‘We filled in what was a courtyard between the two townhouses – now a double-height space with a skylight introducing daylight from above.’
These features illuminate not just clothes and accessories, but a collection of over 30 works by 22 different artists curated by Marino himself. Stacks of colourful spheres by the artist Annie Morris line the staircases and a 2015 portrait of a young Louis Vuitton by Yan Pei-Ming hangs omnisciently in the accessories space. The space also features custom light sculptures by Philippe Anthonioz, and other works by artists including Stephen Sprouse, Laurent Grasso and Gregor Hildebrandt. ‘Their purpose is to make you smile, and enjoy yourself,’ Marino says.
Despite the store’s grand Place Vendôme location (one which also boasts other Marino-commissioned flagships by Chanel and Dior), the intention of the space is not to overwhelm, but welcome. ‘The whole concept is that we call it the Louis Vuitton Maison. “The House of Vuitton” in this case is very fitting within the classic Parisian townhouses. This is intended to make the visitors feel at home,’ Marino says. 'On entering one should feel excited and expectant, and on leaving, happy and uplifted.’
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Louis Vuitton website and the Peter Marino website
ADDRESS
2 Place Vendôme
75001 Paris
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Junya Ishigami designs at Maniera Gallery are as ethereal as his architecture
Junya Ishigami presents new furniture at Maniera Gallery in Belgium (until 31 August 2024), following the series' launch during Milan Design Week
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Reciprocal House offers an unusual case of a London extension
Reciprocal House by Gianni Botsford replaces a north London Victorian structure, preserving its early Norman Foster extension and bringing the whole to the 21st century
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Utilitarian men’s fashion that will elevate your everyday
From Prada to Margaret Howell, utilitarian and workwear-inspired men’s fashion gets an upgrade for S/S 2024
By Jack Moss Published
-
The moments fashion met art at the 60th Venice Biennale
The best fashion moments at the 2024 Venice Biennale, with happenings from Dior, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, Burberry and more
By Jack Moss Published
-
Extraordinary runway sets from the A/W 2024 shows
12 scene-stealing runway sets and show spaces from A/W 2024 fashion month, featuring Murano-glass cacti, rubber armchairs, flashing orbs and more
By Jack Moss Published
-
Frank Gehry’s Louis Vuitton handbags see fashion meet architecture
Frank Gehry and Louis Vuitton’s limited-edition sculptural bags tell a tale of sharp design and precise craftsmanship. Here, the architect tells the story behind the project
By Jack Moss Published
-
Paris Fashion Week Men’s A/W 2024: Loewe to Hermès
The best of Paris Fashion Week Men’s A/W 2024 in our ongoing report, from Jonathan Anderson’s church of masculinity at Loewe to a consideration of pleasure from Véronique Nichanian at Hermès
By Jack Moss Last updated
-
Dripping slime, bedhead hair: 2023 fashion highlights, as picked by the Wallpaper* team
The Wallpaper* style and beauty team picks their 2023 fashion highlights, from curtains of slime at Prada to bedhead hair at Miu Miu, and Pharrell Williams’ Paris shutdown for his Louis Vuitton debut
By Jack Moss Published
-
Miami Art and Design Week 2023: the best fashion moments
The best crossover fashion moments at Miami Art and Design Week 2023, from Frank Gehry’s sculptural bag collection for Louis Vuitton to Fendi’s collaboration with cult collective Bless
By Jack Moss Published
-
Louis Vuitton’s Claridge’s Christmas tree is a shimmering ode to travel
Louis Vuitton is the latest fashion name to create London hotel Claridge’s Christmas tree, which heralds the start of the festive season
By Jack Moss Published
-
These top-handle bags are reinventing the classic accessory
From Prada to Hermès, these sleek top-handle bags riff on ladylike 1950s silhouettes in a way that’s anything but prim
By Jack Moss Published