Louis Vuitton opens the doors of its new destination in Milan, in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw from Piazza San Babila, in the former Garage Traversi. Admirable example of rationalist architecture, designed by the architect Giuseppe de Min, it is returned to the city of Milan, after twenty years of inactivity, completely renovated. Built in 1939, as part of the wider renovation project of Piazza San Babila, the building housed the first multi-storey garage in Milan, without ramps, equipped with a car lift system which made it particularly special.
Louis Vuitton settles in the new spaces in via Bagutta, on three levels, during the renovation works of the historical seat of Palazzo Taverna. The ground floor and second floor are dedicated to retail, while the first floor is intended to host special projects of the maison with a calendar that alternates immersive pop-ups with exhibitions with an artistic and cultural vocation.

The spaces are distinguished by very specific chromatic identities that enhance the contrast with those of the original structure: an intense shade that goes from yellow to fuchsia on the ground floor, the one dedicated to the female universe, while deep klein blue dominates the second floor, dedicated to men’s collections. The concept is aimed at enhancing and at the same time protecting the original architectural box of the 30s through the use of a system of curved walls which leaves the monumental fan-shaped beams in reinforced concrete exposed. Customers are invited to a unique shopping experience, surrounded by vintage furnishings from the heritage of Italian design, works of art, objects from the Louis Vuitton historical archive and unparalleled artisan savoir-faire. In this wonderful context, the visitor discovers Louis Vuitton savoir-faire through the complete offer of leather goods, travel items, textiles, watches, jewels, accessories, fragrances, women’s and men’s footwear.

Coinciding with the global launch of the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collection, the Maison celebrates the opening of the new Milanese space dedicated to special projects, with an incredible immersive installation inspired by the Japanese artist’s art and recurring motifs, such as his obsessive and repeated polka dots that invade the space and contaminate all surfaces offering visitors a unique and dystopian experience, surrounded by the Infinity Dots motif with yellow and black polka dots and by the Metal Balls, the maxi metal spheres on which space is reflected, multiplying to infinity.

Within the space, the products resulting from the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama, rooted in iconoclasm and in the mutual admiration of craftsmanship and excellence, are unveiled worldwide: handbags, shoes and women’s and men’s clothing, sunglasses, fragrances and jewellery, almost all of Louis Vuitton’s universes are contaminated by the Japanese artist’s motifs and imaginations of infinity.

The appeal is strong starting from the facade of the building which presents the special windows with the Infinity Dots theme and on the terrace three giant pumpkins in bright colors dominate, inspired by the famous Pumpkins theme of the artist. The Pumpkins are the emblem of the dichotomy inherent in the artist, representing at the same time his alter-ego, the symbol of a hostile nature, of fears and anxieties and the reassuring memory of his childhood.

Milan was also chosen to celebrate the second collaboration with the Japanese artist also through animations, unexpected in the city, which best express the universe of the Japanese artist: obsession, accumulation, infinity, color , the repetition of her famous motifs such as polka dots and pumpkins: the flower kiosk, from 10 January, will be dressed in kaleidoscopic colored polka dots, a replica of Kusama’s brushstroke and in Piazza San Babila, three imposing sculptures in the shape of pumpkins, created by Studio Kusama, will camp on the hills designed by the architect Caccia Dominioni starting from 13 January.

Louis Vuitton Since 1 854, Louis Vuitton has created unique models in the world, combining innovation and style, always aiming for the highest quality standards. Today, the Maison remains faithful to the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented the true “Art of Travel” through the creation of trunks, bags and accessories that were both creative, elegant and practical. Since then, boldness has shaped the history of Louis Vuitton. Faithful to its tradition, over the years Louis Vuitton has opened its doors to architects, artists and designers, developing product categories such as ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, jewellery, watches, writing articles and fragrances. The impeccably created products are testament to Louis Vuitton’s commitment to the highest levels of craftsmanship.

LOUIS VUITTON
VIA BAGUTTA, 2 MILAN
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www.louisvuitton.com