New York-based TPG Architecture has unveiled its latest collaboration: the team led the construction alongside Viridis, Inc. for a flagship boutique for Swiss watch manufacturer Richard Mille in New York’s Midtown Central, creating the brand’s largest store worldwide and ninth boutique in the Americas. Working closely with Richard Mille’s Paris-based in-house team—who conceptualized the space—the firm was tasked with creating a modern space that embodied Richard Mille’s intricate craftsmanship and dedication to impeccable engineering.
The 4,200-square-foot flagship is split across two-stories and defined by a standout 30-foot-high glass façade. This façade serves as a clear homage to the extreme technicity and artistry that defines Richard Mille timepieces, and is comprised of an impressive twenty-four massive panels of glass, totaling 37,000 pounds. Each of these panels were individually engraved and arranged three-deep to form an ethereal sculpture based on the brand’s iconic RM 008 Tourbillon movement. In addition, the feature glass required precise weight calculations by multiple engineers in three different countries to design a structural support to suspend the glass panels. Finally, the transparent wall is illuminated by 156 feet of fully adjustable LED light fixtures, to create a glowing presence at the foundation of the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere.
The design and construction teams created a sleek and contemporary design that suits the brand’s streamlined aesthetics, providing customers with an immersive shopping experience. Upon entering from the sidewalk, customers walk through a full glass mantrap created underneath 13 tons of suspended feature glass, adding another layer of high-end security. From the mantrap, customers are greeted with interior vestibule doors that are part of the feature glass, carved with the watch movement. Main sales area is aligned with pristine rows of individual vitrines, each displaying pieces from the Richard Mille collection. Cracked glass louvers break up the space that features black leather wall panels with zipper details, Macassar wood finishes, and plush white carpeting for contrast. The stark contrast between light and dark materials create the perfect canvas for showcasing the brand’s timepieces.
A custom elevator with triple glass shaft sits at the heart of the store, delivering visitors to the mezzanine level. The elevator’s cab and shaft were kept transparent to allow a full view of the machinery at work and the fine details of each part inside—another nod to the engineering of the brand’s high-end products. Encased in curved, three-layer glass panels with brushed metal cladding, the illuminated elevator creates the illusion of a floating capsule.
The space additionally includes a mid-floor bar, VIP consultation rooms, displays of the collection’s ladies and automatic timepieces, and a lounge overlooking the busy street.
