Shop. Drink. Eat. View, Repeat
Check out this new 360 retail concept with café, restaurant, and exhibition all in one store in Bangkok
Louis Vuitton has unveiled LV The Place Bangkok at Gaysorn Amarin, a new destination concept that includes an immersive exhibition, café, store, and a restaurant from celebrated chef, Gaggan Anand. From the inspiring architecture to the dynamic scenography and original menu items, this experiential space invites visitors to discover the breadth of imagination and creation within the Louis Vuitton universe today.
Occupying two floors of the downtown retail complex, LV The Place Bangkok establishes a dream-like aura from its corner location where the façade is enhanced with giant diamond shapes that glow at night. From the inside, the space plays out as a multifaceted integration of retail, dining, and culture.
On the ground level is Visionary Journeys, a new exhibition that explores the Maison’s heritage like never before. The scenographic experience developed by Shohei Shigematsu, partner of globally renowned architectural firm OMA, marks the first instalment of a new concept for Louis Vuitton’s Visionary Journey exhibition design and identity. Thematic rooms are constructed into distinct environments recontextualizing historic and contemporary pieces and immersing visitors in the foundational pillars of savoirfaire, innovation, travel, and creation. Starting with a Trunkscape, where 96 trunk modules have been assembled as a tunnel, the exhibition transports visitors directly into a story of craft and ingenuity. This is followed by Origins, which highlights the specific and notable contributions that the Vuitton family made to the Maison as a 360-degree staging of archival documents and items detailing early inspirations and designs. Trunks from the late 19th century illustrate how Louis Vuitton began as a packer and trunk maker while examples of the Monogram canvas through the decades reflect the continuity and innovation of a living brand.
Dedicated to Iconic Bags, the next room celebrates 25 years of fashion history at Louis Vuitton through the lens of five iconic bag models (Alma, Keepall, Speedy, Noé, and the Petite Malle) and how they have been reinterpreted by the Maison’s artistic directors, Marc Jacobs, Kim Jones, Nicolas Ghesquière, Virgil Abloh, and Pharrell Williams, advancing both craftsmanship and style. To emphasize the unique shape, form, and importance of these icons, 21 bags and two ready-to-wear looks are captured in 19 clear acrylic bubbles that convey the collective contribution of these visionary designers.
The penultimate space, Collaboration, dives into the artistic relationships that have yielded some of the most popular and memorable bags in fashion history. Reimagined by Stephen Sprouse, Richard Prince, Takashi Murakami or Yayoi Kusama, seven original creations speak to the boundless potential of collaboration while a semi-circle of animated screens transforms a backdrop of 184 chrome dipped bags into a cinematic showcase of each artist’s distinct pattern. Finally, a surprise awaits visitors as they part in the form of a Giveaway Room where souvenirs can be won and collected.
Also located on the ground floor, Le Café Louis Vuitton exudes a lush ambiance blending botanical design elements with chic details of the maison, from the Monogram parquet floor to furniture referencing the iconic Objets Nomades. Here, the patisserie selection tempts with cakes, tarts, parfaits, and ice cream sandwiches in an array of flavors, each decorated with a signature Louis Vuitton flourish. These tantalizing treats include the Star Blossom Cake, a chocolate and caramel cake; the Monogram Cake, a pistachio with orange blossom cake; and a locally inspired iced refreshment called Mango Sticky Rice Fizz, made with mango and sticky rice-infused syrup with a splash of tonic water.
Mirroring the climate of the Southeast Asian city, the interior boasts the use of natural materials like wood, raffia, and plants. The pièce-de-resistance is a large, curved counter where the dessert selection is displayed, and clients can explore the confections at their leisure.
Elegant yet infused with vibrant touches, the store at LV The Place Bangkok extends across the upper level in an immersive and contemporary shopping experience. Amid vintage furniture arrangements and colorful artworks, the layout proposes the men’s and women’s product universes in greater fluidity, curated to capture and captivate the most discerning of clients seeking exceptional design above all else. Those seeking exclusivity can look forward to the launch of the Alma Nano Rainbow available in five colors, a women’s Cruise 2024 T-shirt available in four colors, and a men’s LV Trainer Upcycling sneaker in a unique colorway. These products are worldwide exclusives and only available at this store. Personalization is available through hot stamping with a special “Nong (meaning younger sibling in Thai) Vivienne” design created especially for the opening.
Also on the upper level, celebrated Indian chef Gaggan Anand has curated a “food journey” offered across both lunch and dinner for the maison’s first restaurant in South Asia, Gaggan at Louis Vuitton. This culinary adventure is signaled by a pyramid of trunks, which lead into a room of undulating walls punctuated with resin structures by Draga & Aurel, Monogram flower lamps, and fringed curtains. The fine dining restaurant accommodates 10 Italian marble tables where diners will experience a seasonal menu exclusive to Louis Vuitton and based on the 5 “S” – Sweet, Sour, Salty, Spicy, and Surprise. From Thai-inspired dressed lobster to a mushroom recipe in a Damier pattern, each composition is presented on a distinctive dish. Moreover, for clients seeking the ultimate culinary experience, a private dining room provides a view to the kitchen with the simple press of a button. With works from local and international artists on display throughout the space, the overall concept embraces the vibrancy of Bangkok with cross-cultural flare, just as LV The Place Bangkok extends the ambitious global lifestyle vision of Louis Vuitton. Bringing a wider cultural experience into a single store, this 360 concept for Gaysorn Amarin establishes a new blueprint for Louis Vuitton spaces to come.
From Thai-inspired dressed lobster to a mushroom recipe in a Damier pattern, each composition is presented on a distinctive dish.