Jun Aoki & Associates’ seven-storey Louis Vuitton Ginza Namiki store in Tokyo features an iridescent pearl façade made of glass and dichroic film, as well as underwater-themed zones and suspended jellyfish by Peter Marino.

Located in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district, this new design replaces the previous store that occupied the space for more than forty years. Exteriors intended to mirror Ginza’s location near Tokyo Bay: two layers of curved glass are covered in a dichroic film to realise the rippled image of oceanic surfaces into a material phenomenon – a pillar of water.

Interiors by New York-based studio Peter Marino continue the nature-inspired theme. Textured walls, curved surfaces, a harmony of wood, glass and art-dotted walls are complemented by suspended jellyfish with monogram detailing around the central staircase.

A secondary staircase at the rear is framed by a four-storey feature wall that reimagines a work by Japanese artist Kimiko Fujimura. Pierre Paulin furniture enlists playful pops of colour: bright pinks and oranges for the women’s floors and reds, blues and muted yellows for the men’s.

The sixth floor houses a permanent space for showcasing new arrivals and a VIP area, while Le Café V on the top floor makes for the ideal place to luxuriate in Louis Vuitton’s enduring aesthetic.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Check out Louis Vuitton’s first café here.

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Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji houses the iconic French fashion brand’s very first café – and a kind-of-hard-to-find restaurant.

The store’s design is a collaboration between architects Jun Aoki and Peter Marino, and reflects Osaka’s heritage as Japan’s most important port.

Jun Aoki, known for his work on a number of Louis Vuitton stores in Japan and around the world (including New York’s 5th Avenue Maison), drew on Osaka’s history as a seafaring city, creating a light, airy white structure inspired by the traditional higaki kaisen cargo ship and its billowing sails.

The top floor optimises its proximity to the sky, with the sun playing off the sea-like terrazzo floor and coloured ceiling decorations.

The airy store breathes the city’s energy while offering clients a sense of calm and respite.

Inside, Peter Marino followed similar inspirations, connecting the store’s four floors to both the maritime feel of the building and to Japanese culture. Wooden floors give the impression of decks, with wood-clad pillars and metal ceilings reminiscent of a grand yacht embarking on an exciting adventure. Traditional materials such as origami washi paper feature throughout.

Located on the top floor of this spectacular new building is Le Café V, with a menu curated by celebrated chef Yosuke Suga, whose Tokyo restaurant Sugalabo was recently listed among the best in the world. Next to Le Café V’s cocktail bar, a hidden speakeasy-style door allows access to the Sugalabo V, also housed within the building. Like its sibling establishment, it’s only accessible to those in the know – the booking process and entrance to this restaurant are closely kept secrets.

Well, sort of…

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Renowned New York-based architect Peter Marino is behind the design of Louis Vuitton’s brand-new store on the famed Place Vendôme square in Paris.

The Maison will see Louis Vuitton’s couture and ready-to-wear collections come together with watchmaking, jewellery, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, accessories and artisanal workshops, inside two traditional Parisian townhouses.

The buildings, which were once known as Hôtel Baudet de Morlet and Hôtel Heuzé de Vologer, were originally completed in 1714. After a number of alterations and renovations over the years, Peter Marino has restored these classic buildings, initially designed by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, to their former glory.

From traditional parquet and stone flooring reminiscent of the 18th century to the building’s original five-metre-high ceilings, Peter took a sensitive approach to the redesign, making use of traditional techniques and materials in combination with contemporary design. This is best seen on the staircase leading from the men’s department on the mezzanine to the women’s ready-to-wear on the first floor: 18th-century stone features are complemented by high-tech glass balustrades suspended on stainless steel cables.

The space is filled with natural light, highlighting the store’s exclusive range of goods across four levels. The Maison will also be home to two working ateliers, one in which exclusive jewellery pieces will be created and another for red-carpet gowns and designs.

Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme features a selection of 33 commissioned artworks created by artists from six continents. Artists include Serge Alain Nitegeka, Paul Nabulumo Namarinjmak and Yan Pei Ming.

Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme is located at 2 Place Vendôme, Paris. For more information, visit eu.louisvuitton.com.

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Bulgari, contemporary jeweller and master of precious gemstones, brings Rome to Africa with a boutique that recently opened in the iconic hub of style and luxury, Sandton City Diamond Walk.

The store opened in May 2016 as the first monobrand boutique of its kind. It was designed by world renowned American architect Peter Marino to feel like a little piece of Rome, with Mediterranean origins and an Italian touch. Marble reminiscent of ancient Roman buildings, coupled with classic geometry make for a luxurious combination of innovation and tradition.

The 146 square metre store is framed by black Grand Antique marble and white Travertine Navana columns that give way to the iconic Condotti windows. The windows are embellished with imperial saffron shantung silk to complement the cream and saffron colour theme and bespoke furniture pieces chosen by Marino.

Careful curation of origami tiles in the different hues of gold that are used in the brand’s jewellery, together with Italian walnut parquet flooring in geometric patterns creates the illusion of natural light. The walnut wood has a degraded effect, as each segment is carefully sun-dried for different lengths of time before being crafted together by artisan carpenters.

A Carlo Scarpa-inspired, oval-shaped counter in galvanised iron is illuminated by two crystal chandeliers by Vistosi. For the exclusive viewing of the most prized pieces, there are semi-private areas that are defined by Pantheon mesh and the Condotti eight-point star that is symbolic of balance, harmony and cosmic order.

Visit the boutique Monday to Saturday from 9am to 8pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 6pm.

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