Completion: April 2006

Like all of this Italian designer's shops, Marni's first outpost in Spain, situated on the charming tree-lined Calle de Gurtubay in Madrid, offers unique architectural details and an out-of-the-ordinary shopping ambience.

From the street, traditional boxed windows have given way to an all-glass façade which allows full views into the bright 100 square meter shop. Guests drop down into the intimate space by way of a curving wooden stair. The circular shopping area features curved walls covered in glossy grey lacquer and is wrapped by a seamless tier of lacquered steps, creating a dramatic amphitheatre-effect. Mirror-polished stainless steel garment rails, which appear to be floating, swoop majestically around the space, creating a sense of lightness and movement.

Like all new-generation Marni boutiques, the center of the store features a futuristic metal 'tree' whose drooping silver branches provide an unexpected and intriguing way to hang clothes. Accessories, a growing product segment, are given their own special display in the central area on suspended petal disks. Piercings in the shelves allow stylised mannequins to pop up so that clothing mingles effortlessly with the handbags and jewelry.

The cozy fitting rooms are upholstered in luxurious grey fabrics and furnished with elliptical mirrors. A small passage leading to the fitting rooms is dedicated to a flexible sunglass display that covers an entire wall.

The sophisticated palette, bespoke fittings and distinctive materials contribute to the space’s eccentricity and make the boutique uniquely Marni.