Designed by RDAI, the new Hermès Shenzhen store at Shenzhen’s landmark MixC mall, in the heart of the dynamic city’s Luohu Central Business District, has a new location (replacing the original Hermès Shenzhen MixC store) and a largely increased retail floor area. The Hermès Shenzhen boutique is now located on one of the mall’s main exterior corners, close to the principal entrances. The store features two large façades, with a total height of 12 meters. The upper part is fully closed, as the floors do not belong to Hermès. The Hermès shop is on a single level, with a total surface area of 928 m².
Shenzhen is a fast-paced modern city in a subtropical environment nestled in the mountains. It is a city that can be seen in many different ways. Shenzhen’s history is hidden between the skyscrapers, art exhibitions are woven between the tourist sites, and nature clings to the edges of the city. It is these hidden and mysterious sides of the city that we have tried to convey in our studies.
At the new Hermès Shenzhen boutique, RDAI was inspired by the contrast between the bustle of the city and the serenity of the surrounding nature.
The Hermès façade was inspired by the growth of bamboo shoots. Clad in jade-colored ceramic, evocative of lofty bamboo, a sense of movement is conveyed through the interplay of light and shade. The strikingly reflective exterior facade evokes the play of light and shadow on long, undulating bamboo stalks. This play of light and shadow animates the facade thanks to the use of the reflective material; jade-colored glazed ceramic tiles. The form of each tile was individually designed, to represent the bamboo’s growth, and are applied to a gently curved form which continues up through to the façade above. The higher level of the façade evokes the temples of Shenzhen which are also traditionally finished in glazed tiles.
The project is a balance between nature and craftsmanship and an escape from the bustling city.
Through the facade we employed natural light via large bay windows opening into the store. These street-level show windows punctuate the shimmering green exterior and invite visitors to step inside.
The interior is set over one voluminous floor, bringing the soft sub-tropical green harmony of the exterior façade inside; natural light plays off curved spaces, high ceiling and a soothing palette of strong but neutral tones.
The visitor is invited to explore the diversity of the métiers of Hermès in a serene space with natural accents that highlight the creativity of the collections of Hermès.
In this luminous setting, the rich materiality and intricate craftsmanship of the interiors reveal generous, spatially fluid volumes. The design plan emphasizes the perspectives and axes. The volumes are more enveloping, like islands, they live and intertwine, assemble, and interact between them. The client is thus projected in a very soft and relaxing atmosphere. We aimed to offer the client a journey, a moment of reverie.
Each space is connected to the others through different passages, allowing us to generate interactions between the universes.
Local artisanal savoir faire such as bamboo weaving, marquetry, porcelain crafts and woodwork were sources of inspiration for the development of this store :
- A unique design was developed for the Chinese made carpets; these were inspired by abstract botanical themes, with very strong colours and organic forms,
- Wooden screens providing a garden landscape theme are all produced by a local millworker
- Marquetry is a type of assemblage often used in furniture making, was used to design huge lily leaves as if they were growing up the walls, the marquetry wood is cypress.
The stores expansive design draws inspiration from Shenzhen’s innovative spirit. Organic shapes merge with refined textures, subtle details and natural colours, to create a sense of synergy and harmony and an embracing, immersive experience.
