#Dark metallic screen covers #Massimo Dutti store in Mexico City
A patchwork of patterned, fibreglass panels wraps the exterior of this three-storey boutique for fashion brand Massimo Dutti, #designed by Mexican firm Sordo Madaleno #Architects.
Encompassing 15,608 #square feet (1,450 square metres), the store is situated along Presidente Masaryk Avenue, one of the most prestigious streets in #Mexico #City. The thoroughfare has undergone a renovation in recent years «to improve its urban qualities».
The local firm Sordo Madaleno Architects (SMA) was charged with transforming an existing concrete and steel building into a multi-level store for Massimo Dutti, a #Spanish clothing retailer known for its classic pieces.
The goal was to create a «veritable work of #architecture» that is well-integrated into the surrounding Polanco neighbourhood.
For the #exterior, the architects aimed to create a #facade that matches «the formal landscape of heights and voids found in the zone’s historical architecture».
The team wrapped the building with a screen composed of light-weight, fibreglass panels coated with a dark grey metallic paint. Their #colour and patterning were inspired by the traditional wrought-iron railings found in the district.
The brise-soleil has tall, linear openings that serve several functions. «The screen generates a series of rectangular niches that are randomly repeated within the orthogonal mesh,» the team explained.
«Each of these niches becomes a window, a showcase, or a closed element, depending on the internal use.»
The screen was fabricated using moulds. «It represents a superb collaboration between traditional local skills and sophisticated #technology,» the #studio said.
A tall strip of glazing forms the store’s main entrance. Visitors step into a double-height space, with a central stair connecting all three levels.
«With #simple #lines and purity of materials, a versatile and timeless space is created that does not interfere with the demands of fashion and ensures the product holds all the attention,» the architects said.
The #team chose neutral materials that embody a «classical but innovative essence». Pale stone is paired with wood and metal accents throughout the space.
The store is fitted with grey carpets and tufted #display benches. A number of original pieces were specifically designed for the project, including tables and hanging racks made of walnut, #stone and #steel.
