Location: MILAN, Italy 210 sqm 2018
Client: Jacob Cohen Co. SPA
Type: Retail

The new Jacob Cohen boutique opened in Milan in via della Spiga, at the very heart of the Fashion Quad. The new store is spread over 200 sqm and over two storeys, where Area-17 combined the richness of details to neat geometries of linear elements and surfaces, according to a color palette which deftly mixes deep blue, gold, and neutral shades of beige and browns, giving that sense of preciousness and laid-back elegance that has always been the brand’s hallmark.

 

The new concept builds on the assumption that beautiful things deserve an equally attractive space to match. Hence the sleek airy design, enriched by precious furniture and materials as the famous Japanese Kurabo denim used for flowy drapes and capitonné decorative panels, which eventually have become a signature of Cohen spaces. In order to highlight the color palette of the products, the finishes create a basic background, from the polished industrial concrete flooring with wool area rug inserts to lime-effect painted walls. Rich tridimensional textures inspired to the Cohen universe enliven the surfaces, alternating a new interpretation of the brand logo to sober vertical stripes of English tapestry memory, to architectural motifs such as boiseries and diamond walls. All materials’ treatments are completely natural: the store will age beautifully as a pair of favorite jeans does, becoming even more beautiful and personal. The new flagship store has fully succeeded in expressing the brand’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship through a careful attention to detail, which, however accurate, never exceeds the boundaries of sobriety. A few examples of this style can be traced in the calf hair inserts as well as the special edition furniture in the VIP area. The idea finds its best expression in the tailor room, where clients can personalize new items getting inspiration from the brand’s story, illustrated in a gallery wall made of both traditional and digital images.

Featured

__
FLORENCE, Italy 175 sqm 2015

The successful partnership between Area-17 and luxury brands continues with the opening of the fourth Italian Longchamp flag-ship store in the heart of Florence, just a few steps away from masterpieces of Renaissance architecture. In the bright and welcoming space, the minimalist yet sophisticated design aims to enhance the appreciation of the products.

__
HONG KONG, China 80 sqm 2014

In 2011 Luca Caprai created the first Cruciani lace bracelet, which has since become a pop icon in the contemporary luxury fashion market. His creations are inspired by the renowned private textile collection of his father, Arnaldo Caprai. When asked to design the new concept for the Asia-Pacific market, Area-17 drew inspiration from the idea of exhibiting a piece of Pop Art in a museum and designed a contemporary gallery like store, where exquisite masterpieces of “Made in Italy” are displayed.

__
HARBIN, China 90 sqm 2014

D’modes is a French fashion brand, introduced to the Asian market by Canada Aushire Enterprises. Area-17 gave voice to the themes of the collection designed by Francesco Scianni through a design that evoked a rarefied Parisian atmosphere, as well as the sophisticated but understated elegance of French women.