The prestigious architecture awards Prix Versailles have announced the shortlist of the most beautiful emporiums for 2026 – with a special focus on retail spaces.
The locations of these luxury shops stretch from Beijing to Beverly Hills, with only two locations in Europe this year.
“The projects included on the World’s Most Beautiful Emporiums List for 2026 draw from the foundations of their brand’s history and culture, and from the emotions and expertise that, in dialogue with the environment all around them, have turned these places into hot spots for creation and inspiration,” states Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles.
Take a look at these architectural wonders, which make a bold statement about the importance of the connection between retail and visual appeal:
House of Dior
Beijing, China
Designed by: Christian de Portzamparc
Located in the Sanlitun district, the French luxury fashion house’s boutique intertwines the brand’s staple “toile” fabric with handcrafted golden glass tiles referencing Chinese culture. Works by Wang Xiyao, Hong Hao, Franck Evennou and Gio Ponti are placed around the shop, making a subtle nod to Christian Dior’s time with artists.
RH Champs-Élysées
Paris, France
Designed by: Foster + Partners
The recently opened luxury gallery is a testament to how different cultures can work flawlessly, withFoster + Partners highlighting the best of British design while incorporating California home furnishings, all in the heart of Paris.The massive space features a freestanding glass and steel structure with its own façade.
Saint Laurent Montaigne
Paris, France
Designed by: Casper Mueller Kneer Architects
One of the many luxury shops on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, this boutique is more than just a clothing store – it is an art gallery in itself. Each room possesses its own atmosphere. The retail space showcases works of art from the Pinault Collection, including a previously unseen piece by Mark Bradford, further echoing “the House’s longstanding commitment to creativity”.
Tiffany & Co. Ginza
Tokyo, Japan
Designed by: Jun Aoki
In its own fashion, Tiffany & Co.’s shop grabs attention with its iconic Tiffany Blue wave-like glass façade. The boutique’s environment explores the reflection of light in jewellery while presenting the beautiful greenery of Tokyo’s gardens on the staircase.
Cartier
Miami, United States
Designed by: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
The boutique balances historic jewellery creations with the nature of the city in which it is located. The pattern of the shop’s façade nods to one of the brand’s creations – a 1909 brooch – while Miami’s natural landscape, with its palm trees and coral, is incorporated into the interior.
House of Dior
Beverly Hills, United States
Designed by: Peter Marino Architects
Another one of the French brand’s retail spaces has been named one of this year’s most beautiful emporiums. The design of the space incorporates Christian Dior’s love for plants with floral motifs scattered throughout the space, including a central garden. “The collections are showcased amongst remarkable works of art, in a celebration of Dior’s timeless legacy,” adds the Prix Versailles’ team.
Issey Miyake
New York, United States
Designed by: SO–IL
This space fuses American extravagance with Japanese minimalism. The New York location does not hide the structure of the building, presenting an almost raw and industrial choice of materials for Issey Miyake’s boutique. Besides being a clothing store, it will also be a gallery space that will host rotating exhibitions, supporting the brand’s cultural values and its commitment to material reuse.
The Prix Versailles most prestigious prize, the World Title, will be awarded to a selection of three from the 2026 list at the end of the year.
Additional sources • Prix Versailles