A gaping crack reveals itself in the middle of a concrete floor as if caused by some Dionysian commotion. Its presence suggests turmoil, energy, and release. A sense of anticipation clings to the air: what has caused the rupture? Here, on the second level of Balenciaga's new London flagship store, the crack has been deftly carved and then filled in with putty-coloured resin. It is a meticulous, 92cm-long character in a fictional set, typical of the projects by art director Niklas Bildstein Zaar and architect Andrea Faraguna of Berlin studio Sub.
Around 2020, Balenciaga's artistic director Demna (who has recently dropped his surname in a bid to separate his personal and work life) decided to strip the brand's stores back to a new kind of textural experience billed as 'Raw Architecture'. The concept involves fewer virgin materials and thus a lighter environmental footprint. Elements from construction sites, civil engineering projects, and abandoned spaces influenced the renovation of the brand's Sloane Street store, which was unveiled last year. The new flagship, located in the heart of Mayfair, iterates the same aesthetic over three floors. It is an exercise of decor and artifice.
Enter through a thick stainless-steel door and you will find a seemingly abandoned concrete galaxy. Synthetic, biscuity mud is scattered underneath floating concrete shelves that line the large windows. Thick structural beams have the patina of rust. Walls, doors, and floors appear weathered. Faraguna says, 'It looks like we found the perfect location in the middle of the city that was already stripped down, and we've just added some appliances, lights, and new elements. But, of course, that wasn't the case.'
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Denne historien er fra June 2022-utgaven av Wallpaper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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POLE POSITION
A compact Melbourne house with a small footprint is big on efficiency and experimentation
URBAN OASIS
At an art-filled Mexico City residence, New York designer Giancarlo Valle has put his own spin on the country's traditional craft heritage
WARM FRONT
Designer Clive Lonstein elevates his carefully curated Manhattan home with rich textures and fabrics
BALCONY SCENE
A Brazilian island hotel offers a unique approach to the alfresco experience
ENSEMBLE CAST
How architect Anne Holtrop is leaving his mark on the Middle East
Survival mode
A new show looks at preparing for a post-apocalyptic landscape (and other catastrophes)
FLASK FORCE
A limited-edition perfume collaboration between two Spanish craft masters says it with flowers
BLOOM SERVICE
A flower-shaped brutalist beauty in Geneva gets a refresh
SECOND NATURE
A remodelled museum in Lisbon, by Kengo Kuma & Associates, meshes Japanese and Portuguese influences to create a space that sits in harmony with its surroundings
Guiding light
Designer Joe Armitage follows his grandfather's footsteps in India, reissuing his elegant midcentury lamp and creating a new chandelier for Nilufar Gallery