Louis Vuitton’s Island Store

Taking its ‘maison’ concept to a suitably extravagant new level, French fashion house Louis Vuitton’s newest flagship is an island pavilion, nestled inside the Marina Bay Sands resort complex in Singapore.
It’s a spectacular addition to the already remarkable destination, which also boasts a mega-mall, ice rink and record-breaking rooftop infinity pool. The glass and steel monument rises out of the water at the bay’s edge and can only be accessed by a bridge, an underground ‘travelator’ that ascends into the centre of the store, or private boat.
The Island Maison is housed in one of two pavilions designed by international architects Moshe Safdie, which created the resort, while interiors have been decked out by long-time Louis Vuitton collaborator, New York architect Peter Marino.
The interiors feature numerous nautical references, including panelled walls constructed from polished shipbuilding timber, sail-shaped window shades and ship’s masts suspended from the ceilings like trapeze swings.
A twisted wood sculpture by British artist Richard Deacon, which seems to shift across the space depending on the viewer’s position, dominates the women’s accessories department. Private spaces – including a mezzanine area with views over the harbour, reminiscent of a ship’s upper deck – add an extra layer of luxury and exclusivity.