Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul

Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul is the luxury brand’s flagship store in South Korea’s capital city that celebrates the nation’s culture and heritage.

The complex curved glass façade forms the signature of this iconic five-floor store, with departments connected by an airy, floating staircase. The zig-zag outline of the roof provides a series of staggered private terraces, in addition to dedicated spaces for temporary exhibitions and a kitchen for pop-up events.

Brand: Permasteelisa Gartner Retail

Architect: Gehry Partners

Contractor: Ssangyong Engineering & Construction

Owner and client: Louis Vuitton Korea

Interior design: Peter Marino

The project

The concept

The store’s curved glass façade is designed to give the impression of flight through a series of louvered glass panels that filter light throughout the building. The overall effect is one of weightlessness and wonder, with façade lights bringing the building to life at night.

What did we do?

We led the process of realising the complex forms of the façade, using 3D design technology from initial geometry to data output for fabrication and site installation. This enabled us to analyse, modify and track each component of the building throughout the project. In total, we designed, manufactured, engineered and installed 1,200 sqm of stone façade, 600 sqm of circular hollow shape structural steel and 925 sqm of signature glass (306 glass panels, all uniquely shaped). The glass façade is supported by our innovative bracket system, made of cast duplex stainless steel.