Louis Vuitton’s Island Maison at Marina Bay Sands, a Pavilion on the Water

In September 2011 Louis Vuitton’s island maison at Marina Bay Sands was reported open in Singapore, the brand’s fifth location in the city. The architect of the building is Moshe Safdie, who designed one of two glass-and-steel pavilions at the edge of the bay. Visitors reach it by a bridge, by a travelator from an underground tunnel, or by private boat.

The interior is by Peter Marino, a long-time collaborator of the house, and is styled as a luxury cruise liner, with shipbuilding timber in the lower rooms. Floating ceilings in the women’s universe rise to as much as 11 metres, with masts suspended from them. A staircase with a nautical balustrade carries a cityscape mural by Ruben Toledo, the windows have trapezoidal sail-like shades, and a 15-by-8-metre sculpture by Richard Deacon, Upper Strut, hangs in the space. There is also a private lounge, a loggia facing the harbour and a bookstore.