Frank Gehry-designed Louis Vuitton flagship store opens in Seoul

Louis Vuitton on Thursday opened its new Frank Gehry-designed flagship store in Seoul, featuring interior design by Peter Marino.

The new Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, located in Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul, is Gehry’s first work in Korea, according to the company.

The new building features Korean heritage and culture, while maintaining its architectural ties with the Louis Vuitton Foundation’s iconic building in Paris, specifically, Gehry’s large glass-and-steel sails that envelope the building.

“What struck me when I first visited Seoul nearly 25 years ago, was the relationship between the architecture and the natural landscape. I still remember clearly the powerful impressions I had stepping up from the garden of Jongmyo Shrine,” said Gehry in a statement.

For the Seoul building, Gehry referenced the 18th century Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon and the “swooping movements and white costumes” in the traditional crane dance, Dongnae Hakchum.

The first to third floors and the basement are used as shop floors while the fourth floor, called Espace Louis Vuitton Seoul, is an exhibition space dedicated to showcasing art from the Louis Vuitton Foundation’s collection.

For the inaugural exhibition, the foundation is showing eight Alberto Giacometti sculptures, Louis Vuitton said.

By Shim Woo-hyun (ws@heraldcorp.com)