Do-it-yourself shops are busier than ever because everyone has spontaneously started to work on their kot. In the meantime, most houses have had a complete architectural make-over and we are fed up with our walls. We’ve also knocked down the doors of the local shops. High time for a change of location. Physical travel is unfortunately not possible at the moment. But that doesn’t stop us from dreaming away and paying a digital visit to our favourite shops abroad. We, the PureDeLuxe editors, selected for you some of the most impressive architectural Retail stores in the world. Most of the shops you will find in this article are called flagship stores. This simply means that they act as a signboard for that particular brand. Enjoy this almost short digital trip!
1/ HOUSE OF DIOR, SEOUL
In 2011, French architect Christian de Portzamparc was commissioned to roll up his sleeves to design The House of Dior. He was undeniably inspired by the designs of the world-famous fashion designer and founder of the French fashion house, Christian Dior. The whole formed by the twenty-metre-high by seven-metre-wide panels is reminiscent of a flower opening under the spring sun. The wavy white panels are draped like petals around the shop, like the pieces of fabric of the Dior dresses, around the female body.
2/ Hermès Cristal Houses, Amsterdam
This beautiful picture of a Retail store first opened its doors in 2016 as a temporary outlet of the French luxury brand Chanel. In 2019 it was taken over by Hermès. The façade consists mostly of glass and was designed by MVRDV, a Dutch design agency.
3/ APPLE MARINA BAY SANDS, SINGAPORE
Apple is without doubt one of the most inventive companies when it comes to architecture of their Apple Store. For this reason, it was not easy to choose one. But we, the PureDeLuxe editors, chose the recently opened Apple Marina Bay Sands. You’ll never guess it, but this giant globe on the water is based on the Pantheon in Rome. Like the Pantheon, the dome contains an oculus, a round window at the very top of the dome. In this way, the sunlight enters from different sides, depending on the time of day. In this floating sphere, you don’t just come to buy something or to follow a Today-At Apple session, but your visual senses are pleasantly stimulated in many ways. You’ll be exposed to as much natural sunlight as possible, and you’ll be able to see the beautiful views from the all-glass dome. Apart from fire, all earthly elements can be found in this Retail store. In the evening, you can enjoy the lights coming from the rings around the dome and from Singapore City.
4/ ZHUYEQING GREENTEA, CHINA
At this flagship store of the previously (in Europe) unknown Chinese brand Zhuyeqing Greentea, your attention automatically goes to the spectacular interior. Like the Apple Marina Bay Sands, this Retail store, opening in 2019, is about so much more than just selling their product. As a customer, you will experience a whole sensation stimulated by their beautiful interior, designed by the Chinese architectural group X+Living. Their inspiration for the Cloud and Mountain theme came from the return to the brand’s natural roots. The origins of the Zhuyeqing tea are in the Mont Emei, Qingyin Pavilion, Bailong Cave, etc. These places are ideal for the growth of the green bamboo leaves, the basic ingredient of the tea. This is due to the presence of mist and clouds all year round. The architects decided to fill the stainless-steel clad space with mountain/cloud sculptures carved from wood. The whole décor creates a serene atmosphere and feels like floating through the clouds while enjoying your tea.
5/ DOLCE & GABANNA, ROME
Who thinks of Rome automatically thinks of Vatican City and the beautiful centuries-old Italian baroque art and architecture. The Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana understands very well how important it is to combine tradition with innovation and, together with the Paris-based architecture firm Carbondale, they have implemented this in their flagship store in Rome. The generous use of cardinal red, gold, mosaic and marble create a wow effect from the moment you enter the shop and pay explicit tribute to the rich cultural heritage of which the city of Rome is clearly possessed. The innovation lies in the digital reproduction of a ceiling fresco made by Paul Troger’s in the 18th century. It was S tudio P astorplaczek who chose to depict this masterpiece on curved LED ceiling and wall screens. In this way, the Dolce & Gabbana flagship store has its own Sistine Chapel, albeit in a smaller version.
6/ Galeries Lafayette, Paris
We stay with the interior, but change course towards the city of light and love , Paris. If you have ever been to this city, you have undoubtedly heard of Galeries Lafayette in the Boulevard Haussmann, or even better, you have been there. People come from all over the world to get their hands on an apparel or accessory from their favourite luxury brand, or just to enjoy the beautiful view that the roof terrace offers. Especially around the Christmas period, it’s all about the headlines, both inside and out. The windows on the outside of the building are decorated every year in the craziest and most original ways. Upon entering, you soon find yourself in the middle of the building where you can immediately see the different floors. Each floor has the same lush decoration and is lit by daylight that shines through the beautiful glass dome. This grand building has been around for over 100 years and is part of a chain of department stores that can be found in various countries and offers a total of around 75,000 brands
Safe and sound arrived, you pretty much enjoyed all that beauty. We would like to end with a quote from the world-famous Canadian architect, Frank Gehry.
Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. -Frank Gehry
This statement certainly applies to the architectural delights we discussed. Each Retail store is unique but they all possess elements specific to the brand or the location. For example, the interior of the flagship store of Zhuyeqing Greentea links to the place where the tea is harvested. In Rome, Dolce&Gabbana styles the traditional baroque art with a contemporary digital twist. At the Apple store in Singapore, they have placed trees in their store that are an extension of the piece of landscaped nature that is right next to the shop. The goal is, of course, to create a timeless architecture in these myriad ways and to blow customers away in a sensational way.
For more living inspiration, visit our PureLiving page
