Streamlined Couture Stores

David Chipperfield Designs the Latest Valentino Flagship Stores

David Chipperfield Architects have designed the 1,850-meter Valentino flagship store, scheduled to open on Fifth Avenue this summer. The Postmodern building, originally designed by John Burgee and Philip Johnson, was previously home to the Takashimaya Department Store.

Chipperfield explains his design by saying, "Valentino has identified architecture as the idea for the interior whereby architecture is brought into the store in a process that reduces the superficial decoration by steering away from the use of panelling — an approach that privileges concreteness over shallowness."

The black steel and aluminum exterior will be decorated with thin vertical bars made of brass, as well as an integrated clock, lantern and Valentino logo. Inside, the interior is made up of an eight-meter tall atrium decked out in grey terrazzo. A palladiana-tiled staircase with a sculptural silhouette joins the store's expansive three levels.
Trend Themes
1. Postmodern Retail Design - Designing retail spaces with a postmodern approach, incorporating concreteness and reducing superficial decoration, provides an opportunity for innovation and differentiation.
2. Streamlined Retail Interiors - Using minimalist design in retail interiors, minimizing panelling and focusing on concreteness, provides an opportunity for innovation and differentiation.
3. Mixing Materials in Retail Architecture - Combining materials such as steel, aluminum, brass, and terrazzo in retail architecture provides an opportunity for creating unique and visually appealing designs.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Applying innovative retail design ideas and techniques to create unique shopping spaces.
2. Architecture and Design - Incorporating postmodern design principles and using a mix of materials in creating retail spaces and interiors.
3. Luxury Goods - Using minimalist and concrete design elements to create a unique and luxurious shopping experience, especially in the high-end fashion and accessories market.

Related Ideas

Similar Ideas
VIEW FULL ARTICLE & IMAGES