Shanghai – Louis Vuitton “The Louis”

The Louis is one of Shanghai’s most unusual architectural installations. Quite new, it is designed to look like a ship, it draws on Louis Vuitton’s travel legacy and the city’s long maritime history to create a retail space that feels more like a public attraction (which really seems to be the case). During the day, its metallic exterior mirrors the surrounding skyline, while at night, animated lighting transforms it into a glowing vessel anchored in the middle of central Jing'an district in Shanghai.

Architecturally, it blurs the boundaries between building, branding and public art. Instead of blending into the busy streets of Nanjing West Road, it stands out on purpose, becoming a bold landmark in one of Shanghai’s most crowded commercial districts. I look for more ideas like this one in Shanghai or places such as Tokyo, NYC, etc. It sure would be nice to see something like Chicago, even if it were scaled down a bit. In Shanghai, it stands out even among the most audacious flagship stores anywhere on the planet.