Louis Vuitton’s newly opened 57th Street Maison in New York City features a striking architectural centerpiece: a series of trunk towers designed by OMA, led by Shohei Shigematsu. The installation transforms the five-story atrium into an immersive vertical landscape, reflecting both the energy of New York City and Louis Vuitton’s design heritage. This collaboration marks the latest in OMA’s ongoing exploration of the Maison’s architectural identity, following their earlier “trunkscape” installation in Bangkok.
The centerpiece consists of four 16-meter-high towers crafted from Louis Vuitton’s iconic Courrier Lozine 90 trunks. Stacked in dynamic configurations, the towers twist, counterbalance, and zigzag, creating sculptural forms that balance strength with lightness. Each tower is clad in a distinct Louis Vuitton canvas, including historic Rayée stripes, classic Monogram, white Damier Azur, and metallic Monogram, celebrating the Maison’s timeless motifs.
The installation not only emphasizes the atrium’s verticality but also serves as a visual narrative of Louis Vuitton’s craftsmanship and innovation. According to Shigematsu, the towers blend familiarity and surrealism, amplifying the Maison’s heritage while reimagining its possibilities. The design echoes the fusion of art and architecture, making the space more than just a retail environment.
