The Miami Design District is getting a new neighbor who is sure to be a great addition to the other luxury stores—Gucci just announced the opening of its store located at 139 NE 41st Street. The store reflects the new design concept conceived by Creative Director Alessandro Michele. The two-floor boutique will be over 4,700 square feet showcasing the complete collection of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and accessories for Fall Winter 2017, Cruise 2018, as well as Gucci Décor.
The store concept is sure to make customers feel welcomed and relaxed. Soft elements, like velvet armchairs, offset harder surfaces and industrial features, such as rivets. Contemporary luxury is suggested not only by the employment of beautiful and idiosyncratic materials but also through a determinedly spare use of space. Keeping with the elegant and contemporary eclecticism that characterizes Gucci’s new collections, the store sees the combination of traditional, modern, industrial and romantic.
Contrasting merchandising elements represent different design codes, combining to create curiosity, and inviting customers to feel like they are constantly discovering new aspects of the store. This journey is mirrored in the fact that travel is a central theme of the new store design, referencing the history of Gucci, specifically through the use of the aesthetic codes of luggage – the trunk in particular – to create decorative elements.
The mood within the store is discretion, where understated drama is created by the surprising and unexpected combination of materials. European white oak floors in a herringbone design are harmoniously integrated with marble polychrome inlay carpet. A one-of-a-kind red lacquered wood staircase is a focal point within the store, leading customers to the second floor which features a private space for an exclusive shopping experience. This private room is customized with pink fabric walls and an artisanal marble mosaic floor.
The juxtaposition of this sort, where opposites forge a new connection, is repeated ubiquitously: technical, mechanical display units contrast with the softness of the rich fabrics that adorn the rooms; roundtables offset rectangular ones; varnished iron wall finishes complement dark grey matelassé or pale pink velvets, used for upholstery and fitting rooms. Throughout the store, you will find sumptuous velvet chairs, while vintage rugs are layered over each other for a warm textured effect. The result is a space that entices, surprises and feels personal to Gucci.
The façade of the shop will be unique to this location and setting, constructed of marble and pale green industrial metal. The façade will be finished with lush greenery echoing the local aesthetic. Additionally, a customized mural adjacent to the storefront will feature a special Gucci illustration. This distinct visual concept has been conceived exclusively for this boutique, embracing the neighborhood known for exceptional shopping and cultural experiences within an architecturally significant context.
Two pieces from the Fall/Winter 2017 collaboration with artist and friend, Coco Capitán, will be available exclusively at this Gucci location. The pieces are a yellow drawstring backpack and yellow belt bag. In honor of this and the collaboration with Capitán, the custom mural on the façade of the store and an art wall in the Wynwood neighborhood will feature her artwork.
The designs were created by the Spanish artist in her recognizable script style to complement the unique energy of Miami and the two creativity-charged neighborhoods. These murals will be an extension of the Gucci Art Wall project that has been revealed in New York City’s Soho neighborhood and in Milan’s Largo La Foppa, in the lively pedestrian district of Corso Garibaldi.
