all photos by Daici Ano courtesy Louis Vuitton

For the past 3 years, Louis Vuitton’s oldest outlet in Japan — their Ginza Namiki-Dori store that originally opened in 1981 — has been under construction. But the screens have now come down, revealing a shimmering new facade that resembles a pillar of water that beautifully reflects the light and surrounding environment.

The newly renovated Ginza Namiki-dori shop, which opens on March 20, 2021, was designed by the same pair who designed the luxury retailer’s Osaka shop that opened last year: Japanese architect Jun Aoki, who designed the facade, and NY-based interior designer Peter Marino, who designed the interiors.

Jun Aoki used a doubly-ply glass structure that gently undulates, creating the effect of a shimmering pillar of water. The glass is also treated with dichroic film, which reflects some colors while allowing others to pass through. […]

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