Vuitton by the bay

The Louis Vuitton Island Maison at Singapore’s Martina Bay Sands was inaugurated last year. It is one of two stand-alone glass and steel crystal pavilions designed by architect Moshe Safdie as part of his overall design for the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

The inside of the pavilion was designed by Peter Marino, featuring nautical inspired interiors and inviting the visitors to become explorers while discovering its multiple facets. It pays homage to the traveller and to the spirit of the sea.

Recognising Singapore’s role as the economic and cultural hub of Southeast Asia, Louis Vuitton Island is a new luxury destination for demanding travellers who wish to turn their travels into a celebration of luxury, fashion and art.

“Opening a new Maison in Singapore is an expression of our belief and optimism in the future of this dynamic city”, says Jean-Baptiste Debains, President of Louis Vuitton Asia-Pacific.

The Louis Vuitton Island is the fifth store in the country and the first Maison in the Southeast Asia region.

Visitors can access the island in three ways: via an outdoor bride, by boat disembarking a jetty and from the mall via a tunnel and ascending travelator that leads them to the centre of the pavilion.

The art

On the left of the tunnel a cultural space will feature exhibitions. On the right, a selection of historic Louis Vuitton luggage linked to the nautical worlds and transatlantic travels of the early 20^th century are displayed.

The Louis Vuitton Island also has a permanent installation by British artist Richard Deacon, winner of the Turner Prize in 1987. The artist, renowned for his large sale sculptures, has created a hanging sculpture formed from three interlocking pieces. Entitled “Upper Strut”, the artwork was inspired by the surface of the water. This is one of the first Richard Deacon artworks to be suspended and is on a scale never accomplished before.

The interior

To capture the thrill and romance of the sea, Peter Marino designed a series of nautical-inspired spaces based on the traditional materials of the seafaring world. In particular, the timber used for sailing ships and the stone harbours and slipways, which can be found throughout the Maison.

The Men’s Universe has nautical accents rendered in timber while the Women’s Universe, whose ceiling soars to height of 11 metres features masts of sailing ships, suspended in the air.

The main challenge for Peter and his design team was to manage the daylight allowed by the glass walls of the pavilion, to ensure consistent lightning of the interior wile still allowing visitors spectacular views of the surrounding Marina Bay.

The layout of the space, unlike the other Maisons is focused towards the centre creating a promenade along the windows, inviting visitors to soak in the views.

The Maison also houses a bookstore, where visitors can browse a specially curated selection of books on travel, design, art and culture.

More information: www.louisvuitton.com