sage presents its new store at MixC Shenzhen. The anticipated space has embodied ‘Soft Strength’ from one of the brand’s core ethos. say extracts the Shenzhen’s identity of ‘Raised by the Sea’, referencing the industrial structures of shipyards to construct an ‘Urban Dockyard’where softness and resilience coexist.
The transparent glass façade diffused the boundary between interior and exterior, transforming the space into a visible ‘Display ’ on the city scale. Granite flooring extends seamlessly from inside to outside, providing a smooth transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The interior is divided into two zones: the front zone, which serves as an open ‘Urban Dock’ dedicated to garment display and experience, and the rear zone. The rear zone serves as a functional ‘Support Hull’. The programs like fitting rooms, checkout counter and storage are incorporated into a white wall, while the wall delineates the front and rear zones.
The main characters in the narrative are the four fiberglass display structures. Arranged along a gentle arc at the center of the front area, each following a dynamic sequence of one rising slightly above the last, reminiscent of vessels docking along a quay. The form of the four installations is abstracted from the corbel structures used in shipyards to bear heavy loads. The vertical fiberglass volume resembles simplified corbel columns, fabricated as monolithic pieces in which the internal supporting structure is concealed, revealing smooth surfaces. The perforated metal panels act as corbel beams, eliminating the sense of dullness, allowing light and sightlines to pass through the space. The two components are deliberately joined by exposed bolts, revealing the act of construction. This reciprocation between ‘refined enclosure’ and ‘exposed strength’ derived from structure identified the brand’s aesthetic and contemporary femininity.
Into the night, the light switches the spatial focus from construction to curation. By layering the soft garments on the robust textures, say reveals the true essence of the ‘Urban Dockyard’: a place where strength supports softness.
