Louis Vuitton at Selfridges.

The eccentric Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is famous for her pieces and exhibitions peppered with colourful polka dots and her renowned ‘pumpkin’ designs symbolising growth and fertility. Following her exhibition at the Tate Modern, London, sponsors Louis Vuitton commissioned Kusama to design a large retail display at Selfridges on Oxford Street.

Location

London, UK

Client

Jean Zeller

Architect

Marc Fornes / THEVERYMANY

Artist

Yayoi Kusama

Project Value

confidential

Status

completed 2012

Expertise

Structures

Kusama had envisaged her trademark dots and circles trailing across a range of materials including display tables, the floor on which the pattern was intended to aid navigation around the space, as well as perforated arches and hanging ‘chandeliers’. Working alongside New York-based architects The Very Many and using innovative construction techniques, we helped to bring the concept to life.

Due to the temporary nature of the pop-up store, our design incorporated lightweight materials to produce the first wholly carbon-fibre, self-supported shell used in architecture worldwide. The technology had previously been used in aeronautics and lightweight speed boats, but this intricate design merged art and engineering in a rather more decorative way.

The very nature of a retail store is constrictive, and the allocated time period also set limitations on the method of construction. We therefore developed a periodic modular system, which, at points, was up to 4 m high yet only 2 mm thick. The structure had to be as stiff and light as possible to enable the entire envelope to remain self-supporting.

In order to cut polka dots into the carbon fibre, we used high-pressure water jets to cut the material with ease and minimise splintering. Sections were produced off-site using large, flat pieces of formwork, and assembled in situ to ensure speed and ease of formation. Connections were made using carbon-fibre strips whilst the pieces were supported by temporary foam scaffolding.