In the heart of Palma's historic district, OHLAB has designed the new flagship store and headquarters for a storied watchmaking business founded in 1879. This renovation harmoniously blends the space's historical essence with contemporary elements.
The project involved the comprehensive rehabilitation of a seven-story 19th-century building, spanning a total of 900 square meters. This includes a 700 square meter multi-brand store, two dedicated Rolex and Patek Philippe boutiques, a specialized watch repair workshop, office spaces, storage, and a showroom with a terrace.
The design concept revolves around "dynamic materiality," where materials are deliberately arranged to create evolving scenarios. This adaptability and flexibility transform the project into a constantly evolving space, offering a spatial experience that merges the tangible with the ephemeral.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a golden staircase, clad in steel and adorned with a light installation, inviting them to explore the various floors. The first two floors are dedicated to customer reception and sales, featuring a design that creates specific atmospheres.
The ground floor inlcudes Rolex and Patek Philippe spaces. The first floor, with three spaces infused with green hues, exudes a sense of understated luxury. This includes a multi-brand store, a lounge area with a minibar surrounded by velvet curtains, a second-hand watch area lined with suede, and a room with leather-paneled walls, merging contemporary elements with nods to the past, such as wooden paneling, stone floors, plaster ceilings, and golden steel and brass details, honoring the brand's history.
The second floor reveals a watch maintenance workshop where six experts have their own workspaces. The remaining floors house storage and offices, providing the necessary space for the store's internal operations. Each floor adapts to the building's existing irregularities, creating volumes that result in a contemporary aesthetic. The combination of various materials, such as wooden coffered ceilings, plaster ceilings with rosettes, brass finishes, and stone floors, transports visitors through different eras, imparting a sense of history to the space.
The first two floors are visually separated from the rest of the space by a reflective steel paneling line, marking the boundary between the brand's tradition and modernity. This adaptability and flexibility allow the spatial perception to evolve as one moves through the space, making it a receptive medium that adjusts to human interactions and environmental demands.
The proposal stands as a paradigm that delves into the conceptual sphere of luxury. The spaces defined by this perspective are not just physical locations but are modulated by a play of makeup and appearances, where reality blurs and perceptions are subtly altered.
