A Louis Vuitton hotel just makes sense. For some time now, the company, known for crafting über-luxurious goods with impeccable design, has been slowly extending its storied brand from physical products to physical spaces. In early November, the company announced plans for LV Dream, a one-year and pop-up–like experiential space, which would include an exhibition highlighting various collaborations with artists, a café, a gift shop, and a chocolate shop. Even before LV Dream, the iconic brand had already begun dabbling in the hospitality world with pop-up restaurants in Seoul, South Korea, and Saint-Tropez, France. So naturally, when Louis Vuitton wanted to take these endeavors to the next level, a hotel was a perfect fit.
As reported by Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), the fashion powerhouse hopes to have its first Louis Vuitton hotel up and running within five years. The company’s current corporate offices, which are located in the city’s 8th arrondissement, will eventually become the location for the hotel. According to Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton’s chairman and chief executive officer, his office boasts one of the best views in all of Paris, and soon these sights will be available for the public to enjoy. “My office is not going to be my office within five years, that’s for sure. There’s better uses, more contemporary uses for it than a corporate office,” Burke told WWD.
Though full plans have yet to be released—including who might design the new hotel or oversee the building’s renovation from a corporate space to a hospitality one—Louis Vuitton is no stranger to working with high-profile architects and designers. Frank Gehry designed the company’s Seoul flagship in 2020 and also worked with the brand to create a perfume; Peter Marino reimagined the iconic Louis Vuitton trunk as part of the company’s 200 Trunks 200 Visionaries exhibition; and various other designers have collaborated with Louis Vuitton as part of its Objets Nomades, the company’s furniture collection. Not to mention the fashion brand has a long history of using architecture as a backdrop for its runway shows, including a display at Bob Hope’s Palm Springs estate (designed by John Lautner) and a recent show at Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute. With taste like that, it’s safe to assume that, when the time comes, the hotel will be in good hands.
