Private Air New York

www.privateairny.com Private Air | Winter 2025/2026 61 THE COLLECTION At Louis Vuitton's The Louis in Shanghai, architect Shohei Shigematsu transforms a landmark flagship into a contemporary cultural vessel, seamlessly merging the spirit of oceanic travel with immersive storytelling and modern design. Words By: Jessica Hall Photography: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton S hohei Shigematsu, partner at OMA and director of its New York office, is an architect known for turning cultural ambition into clear, engaging spaces. His portfolio spans museums, performance venues, and fashion houses, and each project balances narrative with precise spatial planning. At Louis Vuitton's Taikoo Hui in Shanghai, Shigematsu delivers one of the Maison's most theatrical destinations to date, transforming a flagship into an experience. Nicknamed e Louis, the building reads as an ocean liner moored among the city's towers. A shimmering exterior patterned with the LV Monogram announces a journey before visitors even step inside. e facade frames a distinct arrival sequence. You pass beneath a sweeping glass canopy, then enter through a portal cut into the ship like hull. e gesture is bold, but the tone is generous and open to the city. Inside, the layout treats retail as a cultural program. Rooms invite exploration rather than a quick pass through the aisles. At the core is Visionary Journeys, an exhibition conceived by Shigematsu that unfolds through eight rooms. Each space presents a chapter in the brand story, from Origins and Voyage to Perfume and Books, which includes a library trunk associated with Ernest Hemingway. Sports, Fashion and Leather Goods, and Workshop follow, revealing the evolution of craft and the careful processes behind it. e sequence is fluid. ere is no prescribed route. Instead, a series of moments builds a narrative about Louis Vuitton's evolution. DESIGN IN FULL SAIL

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