A collection of eyewear takes centrestage, literally, at Bolon’s new store in Shanghai. Christie Lee writes.
February 24th, 2016
Eyewear shopping doesn’t necessarily need to involve one peering confusingly through a barrage of lens stuffed behind a poorly-lit glass cabinet. The new Bolon eyewear shop in Shanghai’s Jing’an district is a testament to this.
Stuttgart-based design studio Ippolito Fleitz Group approached the space as they would a swanky fashion showroom, furnishing each of the three zones: an optometry, sales and VIP areas with strong visual cues, while taking care that they blend seamlessly into one another.
The sales area is decked out in contrasting shades of white and black with neat rows of Corian platforms making up the display wall. The horizontal fin is made of glowing translucent glass, conjuring the aesthetic of a ‘mini stage’ for each pair of eyewear.
A barely-visible LED spot light is installed on the vertical fin and suspended upwards to illuminate the eyewear. Next to the white wall, plinths of the presentation cases are conceived of black marble.
The open area leads to a semi-enclosed space, where one can have a solitary moment while lounging on a black leather chaise.
Aside from bathing the spacious shop with a warm hue, the golden-hued ceiling reflects the floor, displays and various eyewear, echoing the reflective properties of the glasses. Also noteworthy is that in Chinese culture, gold denotes wealth and good luck. The white marble flooring offsets the glare of gold, while a leather-covered wall adds texture in a space dominated by sleek surfaces.
The high contrasts continues in the optometry, where client consultations occur. Two display walls surround the room with a single back-lit display shelf at the back, offsetting the simplicity of the consultation table and two single seaters.
Ippolito Fleitz Group
ifgroup.org
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Caring for our mental health is paramount these days and architecture and design can lead the way as Hassell shows in its latest project in Queensland.
Drawing on the concept of a watering hole as a gathering place in nature, GroupGSA has rejuvenated Sydney Water’s headquarters located in Parramatta.
From the trailblazer of Spanish industrial design comes a new collection of recycled rugs – a powerful exploration of the concept of waste, a keen celebration of imperfection, and a new underfoot symbol of responsible design.
When iconic brands wield their influence, the ripples extend far beyond aesthetics. And so when the MillerKnoll collective formed, the very concept of design shifted, supercharging the industry’s aspiration to create a better world into an unwavering sense of responsibility to do so.