ERIC CARLSON'S ETERNAL DESIGN FOR DOLCE & GABBANA

Architectural design firm Carbondale has elevated retail design to the next level in a new boutique at Rome’s Spanish Steps

- RICK MULLER

European design has been raving about Paris-based architectural design company Carbondale, which recently unveiled its latest project — a Dolce & Gabbana boutique within Piazza di Spagna at the base of the Spanish Steps, in the centre of Rome. This stunningly beautiful boutique elevates retail design to a whole new level, which is most appropriate, given its historical location.

No stranger to Dolce & Gabbana, Carbondale certainly appreciated the history of this assignment, having recently completed boutiques for the luxury retailer in Venice, Italy, and Monte Carlo, Monaco. Its design for the Venice Dolce & Gabbana boutique won the 2018 awards for Best Retail Interior Worldwide and Best Retail Interior for Europe.

And yet, this Dolce & Gabbana boutique had to be completely different, bringing the grandeur of Rome’s creative excellence and the Spanish Steps into the design objective.

What Carbondale has created within the 1,000-square-metre, two-level space is a visual feast. “Our desire was to create a beautifully impressive contemporary interpretation of the rich traditions of Roman culture, power, craftsmanship and the Italian baroque,” says Carbondale founder, Eric Carlson.