Transparency and haute couture

Client: Dolce & Gabbana Architectural & Interior design: Ateliers Jean Nouvel Architects of record: D.P.J. & Partners Main Contractor: JOIN Furnishings: on design

Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: Dolce & Gabbana. Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Jean Nouvel Design

Ateliers Jean Nouvel has completed the new Dolce & Gabbana boutique in South Korea. The pure architectural design of the blackgranite and glass exterior both contains and showcases D&G’s haute couture The store’s shimmering structure extends over four floors on Seoul’s main luxury shopping street, Gangnam-gu. To create this grandiose, elegant glass treasure chest, Jean Nouvel invented a cylindrical structure of ultra-clear glass set between four black-granite corner pillars that both protect and display the Dolce&Gabbana collections. Large convex glass facades on two sides of the building create a core of stacked transparent components, giving sneak peek of the sartorial treasures housed within. Lightweight transparent glass alternates with elegant, intense black stone in a back-and-forth interplay that moves from the exterior to the heart of

the store. Inside, the boutique is organized around a single large spiral ramp covered in Nero Marquina marble tiles that seamlessly connects the floors. Customers can enjoy a unique shopping experience as this upward spiral transports them to explore the D&G collections, enhanced on every floor by the dynamic interplay of lights and curving lines that define the display areas. Black dominates the minimalist interior design in various shades and finishes, with glossy black glass, gray concrete, and black anodized aluminum dialoguing with the warm, refined hues of the mango wood to create a welcoming, sophisticated ambiance. The main display cases, which line the entire spiral ramp, are made of a series of modules fixed with shelves and rods at different heights. The result is a spectacular swirl of objects that seem to float in the same direction as the walkway. Black-granite corners and balconies create additional spaces for displaying products and trying on clothes. The experience culminates in a terrace topped by a large semicircular canopy towering over the entire building. A distinctly contemporary lounge furnished with elegant black metal seats and a sinuous granite counter was created here for guests to relax and enjoy refreshments.