Ground-Up Change

In France, Louis Vuitton's new Oratoire atelier signals sustainable ambitions for the storied luxury brand.

- DANA THOMAS

Sustainability in fashion doesn't only mean sourcing green materials or embracing circularity. Factories and workshops can-and should be-ecofriendly too. Which is why Louis Vuitton is reconceiving the design of its leather ateliers with environmental impact in mind. The first in this initiative is Oratoire, a 65,000-square-foot single-storey bioclimatic building in the Loir-et-Cher region of central France.

Named for its neighbouring woodlands, Oratoire is a model of eco-design: recycled metal for the structure; recycled cement for the flooring; Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood for the walls (to absorb machine noise); solar panels on the roof, which generate enough energy to power the building; and a new ventilation system of mini windows, with temperature-activated louvres that allow wind to circulate through the space without blowing papers off desks. The wind's temperature is cooled by a network of rain-fed ponds and reservoirs that also nurture local biodiversity.