Valentino flagship store, Old Bond Street

London, UK

2014–16

The second Valentino London flagship store is situated in the heart of the West End shopping district, surrounded by buildings from different periods. Including four retail floors, a storage basement and a top level dedicated to offices, tailoring and storage, the 540m² Woman store marks a further step in the development of the Valentino store concept by David Chipperfield Architects.

The building incorporates a tectonic five-story façade, based on an idea of engaging with the streetscape of Old Bond Street. It is composed of two layers: the outer layer made of natural Portland stone with an inner layer made of artificial terrazzo. The latter consists of a series of well-proportioned openings framed by the Portland stone elements, providing consistency with the geometry of the neighbouring buildings while articulating a decorative façade.

The loggia at the top of the building is characterised by a series of round Portland stone columns introducing a crown, reminiscent of the attic typology prevalent in the area. It can be read as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Old Bond Street elevations.

The theme of Venetian terrazzo runs throughout the project, both externally and internally. The interior walls further receive detailing with different materials, some using the same Portland stone, others in leather and wood. On the ground floor, a series of selfstanding white veined Carrara marble blocks and columns complete both space and structure. Deep portals, lined with terrazzo enhance a sense of threshold. A handcrafted stairwell and lift tower made of oak introduce a new ingredient to the stone surfaces. The same oak lines the vestibule of the entrance, creating a clear threshold from street into shop. The concept features oak tables at the centre of the space, interspersed with the cararra blocks. Along the double layered walls, polished brass pendants are fixed to carry wooden shelves.

Data and credits

Data and credits

Project start

2014

Completion

2016

Gross floor area

536 m²

Client

Valentino SpA

Architect

David Chipperfield Architects, Milan

Partners

David Chipperfield

Directors

Giuseppe Zampieri

Associate Directors

Giuseppe Sirica

Project architect

Adolfo Berardozzi

Project team

Corrado Bongiorno, Filippo Carcano, Tommaso Certo, Andrea Cocco, Salvatore Contaldo, Paolo Dell’Elce, Tsukasa Goto, Maris Kojuharov, Nicola Lorusso, Eugenio Matteazzi, Stefano Penazzi, Letizia Somenzi, Paolo Volpetti, Ben Ward, Carlo Zucchia.

Local architect

Mitchell Price, London, United Kingdom

General contractor

Sice Previt SpA, Segrate (MI), Italy

Structural engineer

Scl Ingegneria Strutturale, Milan, Italy

Milk architecture & design Ltd, London, United Kingdom

Façade engineer

Scl Ingegneria Strutturale, Milan, Italy

Photography

Santi Caleca

Light fixtures supplier

Viabizzuno Srl

Selected Awards

RIBA London Regional Award