Louis Vuitton, the renowned luxury brand, has recently unveiled its latest art installation in Paris called LV Dream. This art installation is situated in a building that the brand intends to transform into a hotel in the future. This announcement adds to the real estate buying spree of Bernard Arnault, the benefactor of Louis Vuitton.
Bernard Arnault, a French luxury multi-billionaire, has recently purchased three prestigious buildings in Paris. One of these buildings is located at 22 avenue Montaigne, which serves as the headquarters of the luxury group and houses Arnault’s main office. Covering an area of 18,700 square meters, this building is 60% owned by the Dray family and 40% owned by LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton. It hosts both offices and shops, including a Louis Vuitton boutique.
The second building acquired by Arnault is found at 7 rue de la Paix, situated between the column of Place Vendôme and the Opera. It comprises 3,100 square meters of offices rented to various tenants and 500 square meters of shops occupied by the watchmaker Piaget. Lastly, the third building is located at 12 place des Etats-Unis in the 16th arrondissement, offering 5,600 square meters of offices rented to the fashion house Martin Margiela. Interestingly, this makes Arnault the landlord of John Galliano, the creative director of Margiela and a designer whom he had dismissed from Christian Dior ten years ago.
Louis Vuitton has grand plans for its real estate in the capital of France. The brand aims to convert its corporate headquarters into a complex that will house the first Louis Vuitton hotel and the brand’s largest store in the world. LVMH has already transformed the 1st arrondissement neighborhood with the unveiling of the revamped La Samaritaine super store and Cheval Blanc hotel, which have quickly become fashionable. However, Vuitton has not specified a timeline for the opening of its debut hotel, which will be situated on the right bank of the Seine, parallel to the Cheval Blanc hotel and overlooking Pont Neuf. The Vuitton headquarters currently occupies a massive building of 36,000 square meters, allowing for ample room for expansion.
The LV Dream exhibition, spanning an area of 2,000 square meters, commenced with a pop-up patisserie run by Maxime Frédéric, the head pastry chef at Cheval Blanc Paris. However, the exhibition closed right after the opening and is set to reopen on December 12 for one year. It will feature a gift shop and a show space that showcases the brand’s collaborations with various artists. This exhibition presents nine rooms designed by renowned artists such as Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, and Yayoi Kusama. Additionally, previously unseen portraits of the brand’s founder, Louis Vuitton, by Alex Katz are also showcased. Vuitton anticipates more than 2,000 visitors per day at the LV Dream exhibition, and entry is free for all.
Overall, Louis Vuitton’s latest art installation, LV Dream, and their plans for a future hotel highlight the brand’s dedication to creativity and luxury. With Bernard Arnault’s acquisitions in the real estate market, including prestigious buildings in Paris, Louis Vuitton’s presence in the city is expected to expand even further. As one of the leading luxury fashion brands, Louis Vuitton continues to push boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide.
Useful links:
1. Louvre Museum
2. Paris Tourism Official Website
