The Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana has opened a store in Amsterdam's P.C. Hooftstraat retail district. The distinctive facade, designed by locally-based Dok architecten, draws inspiration from the image of a 'tough lady on high heels.'
The facade's design incorporates sloping surfaces to create a dynamic play of shadows, achieving a balance of strength and elegance. According to Dok architecten, the robust figure of the woman transfers her power to the 'long legs' of the base, which then rest on very narrow 'high heels' on the ground.
This striking envelope is crafted from traditional hand-molded bricks, baked in an old ring kiln. The bricks were assembled in a stretcher bond to form blocks up to three by four meters, which were then sculpted into their final shape using a 3D milling machine. These blocks were stacked on site and finished by hand.
In addition to the brickwork, the facade features large glass panels set at slight angles, enhancing the interplay of sloping surfaces. This design choice results in a unique reflection of the surroundings in the glass, as noted by Dok architecten.
Behind the facade, an existing building was reconstructed above the basement level, with the design led by Gietermans & Van Dijk Architecten. The ground floor and first floor house Dolce & Gabbana's retail space, while the upper two floors are programmed with residential units. Gietermans & Van Dijk also played a role in the design of two other prominent buildings on P.C. Hooftstraat: Crystal Houses in collaboration with MVRDV and P.C. Hooftstraat 138 with UNStudio.
