Louis Vuitton, New Bond Street
Following 14 months of closeted renovation, Louis Vuitton’s New Bond Street store in London has reopened, revealing a dramatic metamorphosis of style where two different buildings are combined into one new location.
The complete re-imagining of the space, starting from its reconstructed exterior to its new generation of interiors, was rendered by New York-based architect Peter Marino.
Crossing the threshold, over a floor in a Damier check pattern made of Croix Huyart stone and Pierre Bleue du Hainaut marble, visitors are greeted with a changeable gallery space, where the window displays of New Bond Street are ‘transported’ inside the store.
To the right is the first of several monumental volumes cut into the space by Marino, which is revealed when viewed from the floors above. A sweeping double helix shaped staircase, worked as a sculpture with an offset centre, is crafted in cerused oak.
Separated by a glass balustrade, the left staircase leads up to women’s ready to wear while the right leads down to menswear on the lower ground. The first of many important artworks are hung on the walls behind the stairs, Josh Sperling’s Bingo Bongo Bango, 2019 and Chris Martin’s Golden Age (for Harry Smith), 2018.
On the ground floor through the women’s accessories area, giant architectural spaces open up the whole of the women’s universe. Above the leather goods hang Donald Moffetts’s Lot 050416 (Chartreuse), 2016 and Aaron Curry’s Fkilz, 2012.
Overhead glazing reaches skywards, the eye meets with Tracey Emin’s Love Is What You Want, 2011, and a monumental work by Sarah Crowner, commissioned for the store, reaching nearly seven metres long, overlooks the silk scarves and leather goods.
Hung from the double height ceiling are four Cocoons by the Campana Brothers, from the Objects Nomades collection. For the very first time in the United Kingdom, the Objets Nomades collection will be available on a permanent basis.
This collection of designer travel and home-related objects, launched in 2012, keeps alive Louis Vuitton’s long tradition of beautifully crafted travel-inspired objets. Some of the world’s most renowned designers, including Barber and Osgerby, Atelier Oi, India Madhavi and Patricia Urquiola amongst others, have imagined stunning Objets, which have then been made by Louis Vuitton.
The south wall hints to Louis Vuitton’s origins as a trunk maker, with 320 of Marcel Wander’s diamond modules forming a map of the world in signature tanned cowhide leather. The fashion jewellery area has a ceiling made up of 10 Objets Nomades Concertina shades, designed by Raw Edges, suspended from the ceiling.
On the first floor to the right is a carpeted area displaying women’s shoes, whilst to the left is high jewellery, where walls are finished in back-lit Damier patterned screens. New Bond Street will be the only Maison in the world, aside from the Maison Vendôme in Paris, to hold a full high jewellery collection, featuring the most beautiful gemstones including sapphires, emeralds, spinels and Santa Maria aquamarines.
Adjacent to the high jewellery area along the facade of New Bond Street, is the main women’s ready to wear salon.
Here Marino reveals two floors, exposing the first and second floors and their windows. Bearing beams are painted in Louis Vuitton’s signature packaging saffron colour, while the room’s focal wall features James Turrell’s 2009 Tall Glass light installation.
A secondary staircase and lobby are finished entirely in a rainbow coloured tape installation by Scottish artist Jim Lambie, and a lift lined in gold leaf leads up to the second floor. This expanded space comprises three private shopping suites that can be opened or closed for appointments.
The final lower ground floor can be reached via the same double helix staircase, with the space above open three stories high to let in light. The space incorporates an area dedicated entirely to men’s ready to wear and shoes by Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh, as well as accessories and watches.
Throughout the store, seating and furniture has been custom-made by Peter Marino, who has also curated important vintage pieces from designers including Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Paulin and Jean Touret, amongst others.
Masons Scaffolding Ltd
Masons Scaffolding Ltd specialise in all types of scaffolding, ranging from simple external decorating scaffolds to full new build and refurbishment packages.
In operation since 1993, we take pride in our level of customer service, the quality of our work and possessing an extensive understanding of what a specific job entails to ensure each project is carried out to the best standards possible. Our repeat work is second to none and that has allowed us to grow year on year into the forward thinking, well run operation that we are today.
For Louis Vuitton’s New Bond Street store, we were required to provide a complete scaffolding package for all phases of the project. This included bespoke hoarding scaffolding, birdcages, cantilevered access systems internally, a temporary roof area at the rear with cantilevered platforms underslung below, temporary staircases and the bespoke designed support scaffolding for the launch advert across both external façades and over the entrance.
We were honoured to be awarded this project by Castletech Ltd on such an iconic store that is known all over the world. Having previously worked for Castletech on Louis Vuitton (Selfridges) and Abercrombie & Fitch in Saville Row, they liked the way we operate on sensitive projects, which require extra attention to service and detail.
To find out more, please visit www.masonsscaffolding.com.
