design and research office neri & hu has completed a flagship store for comme moi, situated inside shanghai’s art deco donghu hotel. the design team sought to retain traces of the structure’s varied history, which has seen multiple renovations and changes in program. consequently, the design adds another layer of intrigue, with inserted elements that seek to embody the brand’s young yet sophisticated aesthetic.
project name: comme moi – flagship retail store
site address: 169 xinle road, shanghai, china
project type: interior design
interior architect & interior designer: neri&hu design and research office
design period: june 2015 – august 2015
construction period: 8 weeks
gross area for renovation: 150 sqm
design team: lyndon neri & rossana hu (principals in charge), dirk weiblen (director in charge), anqing zhu (designer), feixia huang (designer), nicolas fardet (associate of product design), lili cheng (product designer), xiaowen chen (product designer), christine neri (senior associate in charge of graphic design), litien poeng (graphic designer)
composed as a series of four sequential chambers, retail spaces are connected with a continuous rail that also forms the armature for custom designed hanging cabinets. these showcasing units are sheathed in a metallic mesh that allows them to stand out against the interior’s historic architectural surroundings.
unifying the space, a terrazzo floor occasionally extrudes upwards to form sculptural zones such as the reception counter and areas of seating. guided by the metal rails and continuous flooring, visitors are able to meander freely through the various chambers before ending their journey at a lounge area.
from designboom