Gwenael Nicolas on retail architecture's evolution and his projects for Rolex, Coach, and m-i-d
Gwenael Nicolas, a French designer based in Japan and the founder of Curiosity in 1998, reflects on the transformation of retail architecture. He observes that shops are increasingly resembling cafés and communal areas, while hotels are integrating emotional atmospheres akin to fashion boutiques. His portfolio includes the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Mayfair, London, as well as retail spaces for Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tod’s. Drawing inspiration from Asia, particularly Japan, South Korea, and China, he created a concept store in Osaka for m-i-d, characterized by an all-yellow interior dubbed 'lighthouse.' The Rolex Ginza store showcases an angled facade and partnerships with Hosoo and Design Tochi. Collaborating with Stuart Vevers, he emphasizes branding in the Coach store concept. Nicolas also points out the influence of COVID-19 on design, advocating for a forward-thinking approach.
Key facts
- Gwenael Nicolas is a French designer based in Japan and founder of Curiosity, established in 1998.
- He has completed projects including Rolex Ginza, Coach Ginza, Maison m-i-d, and Refa's home in Tokyo.
- Retail architecture is shifting towards hospitality-inspired spaces like cafés and lounges.
- Nicolas designed the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Mayfair, London, after working on stores for Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tod’s in the area.
- Asia, particularly Japan, South Korea, and China, is noted for culturally rooted and experimental retail spaces.
- For m-i-d in Osaka, he created an all-yellow interior inspired by the keyword 'lighthouse', using 20 new materials.
- The Rolex Ginza store features an angled facade and collaborations with Japanese craft artists Hosoo and Design Tochi from Kyoto.
- The Coach store concept includes a large-scale sculpture as a branding icon, implemented in Dubai, Macao, and Kyoto.
Entities
Artists
- Gwenael Nicolas
- Rei Kawakubo
- Stuart Vevers
- Yohji Yamamoto
- Tadao Ando
- Rem Koolhaas
- Ellie Stathaki
- Van Gogh
Institutions
- Curiosity
- Rolex
- Coach
- m-i-d
- Mandarin Oriental
- Fendi
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Tod’s
- Comme des Garçons
- Hosoo
- Design Tochi
- Wallpaper*
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Bartlett
- Thames & Hudson
Locations
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- South Korea
- China
- London
- Mayfair
- Dubai
- Macao
- Kyoto
- Greece
- Ginza