Krizia, the Italian brand founded by Mariuccia Mandelli in the 1950s in Milan, is making a play for a comeback. Part of that rebranding involves a slick new shop along the fancy Via della Spiga, 23 (its historical location) that has been redesigned by one of Italy’s hottest architects, Vincenzo De Cotiis.
The mood inside the boutique is stark. It is distilled down to hard lines and pure geometry in a lofty, clean box that evokes an art gallery. But as usual, De Cotiis has pilfered a cool new material to give the space an intriguing heart beat. In this case, he has used fiberglass shells, repurposed from old ships, whose scratched surface present a raw contrast to sleek onyx and reflective mirroring on warm, glowing walls.
A staircase crafted from burnished steel and coloured glass brings customers from the ground floor to a sub-level where an expanded offering of Krizia’s ready-to-wear and accessories can be found. De Cotiis has also transformed boring retail necessities into intriguing forms. Display cases crafted from burnished steel and glass look like giant prehistoric dinosaur teeth. Tables crafted from brass cubes, meanwhile, are configured in a visually satisfying zigzag formations.
A stark atmosphere fills the minimalist boutique
A stark atmosphere fills the minimalist boutique
Hard lines, clean geometry and high ceilings add to the lofty aura and feeling of space
Hard lines, clean geometry and high ceilings add to the lofty aura and feeling of space
De Cotiis is famed for bringing an elegant industrialism to his projects
De Cotiis is famed for bringing an elegant industrialism to his projects
Despite the reliance on clean lines, the room does not feel cold or heartless, perhaps due to the reclaimed fibre-glass display cases taken from old ships
Despite the reliance on clean lines, the room does not feel cold or heartless, perhaps due to the reclaimed fibre-glass display cases taken from old ships
Zig-zag tables add purposeful flow and direction to the interior
Zig-zag tables add purposeful flow and direction to the interior
