Denis Montel on Hermès Abu Dhabi Store's Organic Design

Denis Montel, artistic director of Paris-based interior architecture firm RDAI, discusses the new Hermès store at The Galleria in Abu Dhabi. The store's design is inspired by its seaside location, featuring organic shapes, fluid layouts, and materials evoking coral, sea urchins, and seashells. The long glass façade creates a shimmering effect with stainless-steel mesh panels resembling seaweed. Natural light plays a key role, with shadows shifting throughout the day. The space transitions from sandy tones to light blues, with handmade wallpaper in the lounge area. Montel emphasizes the contrast between the sea and desert environment, using terrazzo, carpets, and coral-like stucco to echo the mineral character of sand and salt crystals.