Full refurbishment and furniture design for a designer clothing boutique:
The project is located in a very narrow street in the historical heart of Montpellier, the city centre’s prime location for a shopping trip. The challenge was to develop this confidential shop into a tailored retail space reflecting the unique designer pieces sold inside. At the store owner’s request, we worked around the concept of an elegant boudoir, providing a warm and cosy atmosphere for her to welcome her clients in.
The first phase consisted in removing partitions, floor finishes and suspended ceilings in order to reveal the character of the place: wooden beams, steel I-beams, stone walls and alcoves, all of which were previously concealed. The team introduced industrial elements to contrast with the existing raw materiality. A cladding of white pine, mirrors laid out in a pattern, a skylight, and brass rods standing in the walls all reinforce the original atmosphere with a mix of textures and hues.
Another aspect of the design focused on the feeling of light and space. This was achieved by decompartmentalisingthe room and laying the floor boards so as to create perspective and transparency all the way to the back of shop. The changing rooms are located at the junction between the shop floor and the back of house, their light curtains softly dividing the space.
The shop floor’s layout is designed to fluctuate with the seasonal changes of the clothing collections. This flexibility is crystallised by a central piece of furniture, which acts both as seating and as a display support for the merchandise. Divided into four modules and mounted on wheels, it allows a variety of configurations. Its brass and poplar plywood shelves complete the palette of raw materials. Above it, suspended from the centre of the room, wires and naked bulbs interlace playfully.
From the street as well as from within, the shop now appears to be warm and welcoming, its glow matching that of the treasures found inside.
Material Used :
1. Brass
2. Poplar plywood
3. Wooden beams
4. Steel I-beams
5. Stone walls
