Louis Vuitton wants to make its Fifth Avenue flagship even more luxurious. Just in time for New York Fashion Week, LVMH has filed plans with the Department of City Planning (DCP) to construct a 25-story tower at 1 East 57th Street, replacing the existing 20-story building. The proposed project would rise 485 feet and feature a 10-story flagship store, a cafe and terrace with Central Park views, public exhibition space, a luxury spa, a top-floor bar and garden, and other upscale amenities.
As first spotted by Crain’s, the 10-story flagship store would feature a “world-class experiential retail destination” where visitors can enjoy “shopping, culture, and moments of respite, all in a single visit,” according to the application.
Under the current proposal, the store’s 8th floor would feature the cafe and terrace, while above, four exhibition floors would feature permanent and temporary installations diving into the history of the famous brand. Above the exhibition space would be a luxury spa, showroom suites, restaurants, and a top-floor bar and garden.
The development would consist of two main volumes: a roughly 125-foot base and a setback tower rising to about 485 feet. Of that total height, the occupiable floors would reach 420 feet, topped by a 65-foot parapet featuring the building’s mechanical bulkhead.
A drawing submitted in the application features two iterations of the massing, an illustrative building envelope, and a proposed maximum building envelope. The illustrative envelope depicts four curved volumes of similar size, stacked atop one another and subtly twisting towards Central Park.
The striking design reflects Louis Vuitton’s ambitious vision, blending respect for the neighborhood’s architectural heritage with the brand’s signature design excellence.
LVMH is also applying for a floor-area bonus of nearly 25,000 square feet. In exchange, the company would help facilitate upgrades at the Lexington Avenue-59th Street subway station, including an ADA-accessible elevator, according to The Real Deal.
Plans to replace the building have been in the works for several years. In 2023, Louis Vuitton reportedly interviewed high-profile architects for the project, though the effort remains unclear, as no architect is listed on the DCP application.
Last year, the retailer filed plans to demolish its existing flagship. Since then, the building has been wrapped in custom LVMH scaffolding, designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, giving it the appearance of a stacked set of trunks adorned with the brand’s signature logo print, according to Architectural Digest.
RELATED:
Get Insider Updates with Our Newsletter!