Vancouver’s buzzy new Oakridge Park mall makes a case for in-person retail | Canada Voices

Vancouver’s new Oakridge Park shopping centre is quickly establishing itself as a major North American luxury destination.

The 650,000-square-foot mall, which opened to the public on May 28 to much fanfare, includes striking flagships from Ferragamo, Prada, Maison Margiela, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Loewe.

And yet, what the spaces have in common is the impression that you’re anywhere but in a mall.

“We’re seeing a shift away from traditional boutiques toward environments that feel more like galleries, private residences or cultural destinations,” said Clarisa Llaneza, founder of the Toronto design studio that bears her name.

Prada’s 7,000-square-foot store, for instance, features a three-dimensional nod to the label’s triangle logo on its facade. Inside, checkered black-and-white marble flooring recalls the brand’s historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II boutique in Milan.

Louis Vuitton’s new flagship, meanwhile, is designed to represent the house’s balance between heritage craftsmanship and modern pop culture. A stone exterior featuring the brand’s signature floral motif beckons shoppers. Furnishings by Vancouver designer Jay Miron round out the interior of the space, the label’s 11th location in Canada.

As Llaneza put it: “In an era where clients can purchase products almost anywhere, luxury brands are increasingly focused on creating a sense of place through architecture, materiality, craftsmanship, art and hospitality.”

Perhaps no store at Oakridge Park exemplifies this ethos like the Loewe boutique. It continues the Spanish label’s signature Casa Loewe concept, which sees each store made to feel like the home of an art collector. A commanding green facade gives way to an interior punctuated with vivid blue. Handmade ceramic wall tiles (in shades of green, white, blue and silver), green marble surfaces and brass detailing add further dimension.

The craftsmanship that Loewe fans are used to seeing in its collections extends to the furniture and decoration. George Nakashima cushion chairs made with American black walnut sit alongside an Axel Vervoordt table, while Gerrit Rietveld’s Steltman chair and Isamu Noguchi’s Akari light sculptures imbue the space with a sense of design history. Spanish antique ceramic vessels, a leather tufted bench and bespoke wool rugs by British textile artist John Allen lend warmth and graphic interest.

The boutique also features a selection of artworks from Loewe’s permanent collection, along with specially commissioned pieces. Among the standouts is Altoon Sultan’s painting Two Arches (2023). Nearby, ceramic works by South African artist Hylton Nel, including Cat Vase II (2021), bring colour and whimsy, while walnut wall pieces by Julian Watts highlight natural materials.

“What makes Loewe particularly compelling is that its retail environments feel less like stores and more like curated cultural spaces,” Llaneza said.

Loewe, which was established by a collective of artisans in Madrid, is celebrating its 180th anniversary, this year. To commemorate, the label released a capsule collection of handbags, accessories and T-shirts, available in store and online.

The $6.5-billion Oakridge Park development also includes luxury condos, office space and a public park spanning 28 acres.