Design: Peter Marino Architect
Opening date: June 2013
Store size: 1,170 sq m
Peter Marino has done it again. The New York-based Architect has embraced the inherent elegance, audacity and refinement of French luxury fashion brand Chanel with a timeless panache to create an exclusive, intimate and glamorous retail environment; this time on London’s New Bond Street. The 1,170 sq m flagship boutique, which opened in June, showcases the universe created by designer Karl Lagerfeld, including ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes and costumer jewellery.
The three-level space, which is positioned around a central atrium, uses sumptuous materials such as soft gold and bronze, and reflective surfaces like glass, marble and lacquer. Each floor is divided into a series of intimate areas with specially commissioned artworks, and both contemporary and antique furniture throughout. Each and every artefact has been chosen to reflect the brand and Coco Chanel’s legacy as a passionate patron of the arts.
The ground floor houses jewellery, accessories and handbags as well as a wall dedicated to sunglasses and beauty ‘try-on’ counters furnished with upholstered high-stools.
The first floor, which can be reached by lift or by the marble staircase, is decorated with an imposing antique fireplace, Jasper Morrison graphic marble display shelves and artworks by Karl Lagerfeld, Richard Deacon and Liza Lou among others, giving it a townhouse-like intimacy. Selected pieces from the 2012-13 Métiers d’art Paris-Edimbourg collection, first presented at Linlithgow Palace, Scotland in December 2012, take centre stage. The first level has two ready-to-wear rooms with a series of exclusive try-on salons and an expansive double shoe area with ample room to browse the latest collection.
The second floor, which is conceived as a gallery space with fine oils, rare prints, and sculpture on display, allows a bird’s eye view of the atrium through which cascades a giant, twisting ‘pearl-necklace’ sculpture by renowned French artist, Jean-Michel Othoniel. The upper level features antique Chinese carpets, consoles and burgundy lacquer walls reminiscent of Coco Chanel’s Rue Cambon apartment and is used as an intimate, third ready-to-wear space.
retail news 
Leave a Reply