OMA has unveiled its latest collaboration with Louis Vuitton, which will form part of the French Pavilion at the upcoming World Expo 2025 in Kansai, Osaka. Designed by OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu and project leader Jesse Catalano, the installation marks OMA’s third collaboration with the iconic fashion house, following previous collaborations in Bangkok and New York, and places Louis Vuitton’s design heritage in dialogue with the Expo’s theme, “Ode to Love.”
At the heart of the pavilion are two immersive rooms dedicated to Louis Vuitton, designed to showcase the duality of tradition and transformation in the brand’s identity. Inspired by Auguste Rodin’s sculptures of hands, the pavilion unfolds in five themed “Odes.” Echoing the “Cathedral,” Louis Vuitton’s installation symbolizes a hand that combines craftsmanship and innovation.
The first of the two spaces, called the “Craft Library,” pays homage to the brand’s savoir-faire, time-honored craftsmanship, and innovative materials. The room is filled with 84 iconic Louis Vuitton trunks, stacked floor to ceiling. Each trunk opens to reveal a custom interior featuring archival videos of artisans at work, created by IRCAM from recordings of Louis Vuitton’s historic Asnieres workshop, and accompanied by a vivid ambient soundscape. Warm lantern-like lights illuminate the room from within the trunks, creating an atmospheric gradient as visitors move towards the second space.
In stark contrast, the second room interprets Louis Vuitton’s consistent spirit of travel in a dramatic, futuristic style. 90 Courrier Lozine trunks form a huge suspended sphere with a diameter of 6.6 meters. Weighing 13 tons, the spherical installation is covered in white Monogram travel trunks and serves as a projection surface for a new audio-visual work by Japanese artist Daito Manabe. The kinetic sculpture rotates and rises in sync with the digital artwork, transforming the space into a multi-sensory experience of movement and light.
The installation not only highlights the evolution of Louis Vuitton’s iconic travel trunk, but also symbolizes global exchange, cultural heritage and forward-looking design. With its layered symbolism and bold spatial narrative, the project adds a unique architectural touch to the French Pavilion and sets the stage for one of the most anticipated exhibitions at Expo 2025.