True to its glamorous form, Valentino’s New York flagship boutique has taken up residence within the iconic Takashimaya Building on Fifth Avenue, designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Originally built in 1993, the department store building has been transformed into a cohesive, 20,000 sq ft space by David Chipperfield Architects.
The monolithic space is a distinct departure from the traditional retail mould. Graced by a new, slim glass façade made from black steel and aluminium, the building evokes the modernist traits of Mies Van der Rohe’s Seagram building with brass bars bringing a refined elegance to the frontage while connecting the three retail levels. Indoors, the space boasts a 27-foot high atrium, lined in a grey Venetian terrazzo of carrara chips, timber, leather, marble and carbon fibre. A statuesque palladiana staircase links the ground floor accessories’ level with the women’s and men’s floors on the first and second levels. Each area is finished with custom oak shelving and polished brass fixtures to complete the portrait of modern luxury.
