With a need to be both appealing and functional, designing a watch boutique is not without its challenges. Anthony de Haas, director of product development at German watch brand A. Lange & Söhne, acknowledges the contradictions at play in their new boutique: ‘Together with our architects, we decided on an approach that was inspired by the Bauhaus philosophy of combining craftsmanship, selected materials and technology in one cohesive whole,’ he says; the result is both simple and warm, an inviting environment in which to pause over a watch.
A clash of design details is carefully considered; sharp perpendicular angles and walls of glass unite with an amalgamation of steel and stone, a reference to the company’s home in Saxony’s mountainous Erzgebirge. Architectural details mirror intricate decoration on the watches: ‘Wall fittings feature metal pilaster strips that are bevelled at a 45-degree angle and polished – just like the edges of our watch components,’ explains de Haas.
‘Functionality is very often underestimated,’ adds CEO Wilhelm Schmid. ‘There are a lot of processes in such a boutique – and they simply have to work.’
Perpendicular inter-locking volumes transform the space into functional islands
INFORMATION
alange-soehne.com
ADDRESS
The Dubai Mall, Ground Floor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
-
This hidden London culinary haven is a refreshing take on the steakhouseMr Porter, a new steakhouse, bar and lounge in central London's swish Mayfair, is a hidden haven of strong flavours and minimalist dining
-
Dine within a rationalist design gem at the newly opened Cucina TriennaleCucina Triennale is the latest space to open at Triennale Milano, a restaurant and a café by Luca Cipelletti and Unifor, inspired by the building's 1930s design
-
The collections you might have missed this S/S 2026 menswear seasonBetween the headliners in Paris, Milan and Florence, a few off-schedule displays are deserving of honourable mention – from Martine Rose’s sexually-charged portrait of Kensington Market to Sander Lak’s appointment-only namesake debut
-
Meet the young watchmakers stirring up the industryLoupes at the ready, these artisans are ones to 'watch'
-
Take a look at the big winners of the watch world OscarsThe Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is the Oscars for the watch world – get all the news on the 2024 event here
-
Why are watch designers so drawn to brutalism?Watch brands looking for ways to break the conservative mould look to brutalist architecture and 1970s design codes
-
Classic watch designs to last a lifetimeWhen considering which watch design to invest in, disregard trends and consider classic pieces characterised by timeless design
-
Browns and Mad Paris rethink Audemars Piguet Royal OakWatch customisation specialist Mad Paris has developed two new versions of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak for Browns
-
Time for an eco-friendly watch?Some of the more eco-friendly watch materials being embraced by sustainably-minded watchmakers include recycled steel, bioceramic and cork
-
Boundary-breaking Chanel watch is tweaked for a new generationThe Boy.Friend Skeleton appeals to both men and women with its distinctive octagonal silhouette
-
On the button: Chanel's perfectly hidden timepieceThe ‘Mademoiselle Privé Bouton’ watch is everything but off the cuff
