Fashion brand Prada opens Turin's first store

30 Jun '14

3 min read

Prada has opened its first store in Turin, housed in a prestigious historic palace on the corner of Piazza San Carlo and Via Lagrange.

The new space, conceived by Italian architect Roberto Baciocchi, revisits the brand's signature architecture and adapts it to the unique features of the building.

On a 1200-square metre surface extending over two floors, it presents men's and women's ready-to-wear collections, leather goods, accessories and shoes.

The shop façade stretches along Via Lagrange with three street-front window displays on either side of the entrance and fourteen windows on the first floor, giving a glimpse into the interiors; along the porticoes of Piazza San Carlo, two large window displays frame the second entrance.

Inside the store, a series of intricate, striking spaces have been created around the original architecture. The entrance from Via Lagrange brings the client into a gallery presenting bags, accessories and women's shoes. The floor is black and white-chequered marble, one of the defining features of Prada's identity around the world, and the walls are clad in green fabric. Catching the eye is the sophisticated new interpretation of the Prada display niches which have been carved into the green tent framing the products displayed.

This area adjoins an intimate room presenting women's shoes, dominated by one wall lined with mirrors and a rich lounge in the middle.

In a wide open space in the centre of the store you come to the glass elevator and visually- impressive, black marble staircase leading up to the first floor, where the women's and men's ready-to-wear collections are presented. From here, you are drawn into a room with three large glass archways that reach up to the first floor and overlook the inner courtyard; sleek, crystal display shelves with a polished-steel trim showcase women's bags and accessories.

The men's area is also present on the ground floor, with the Piazza San Carlo entrance opening onto the men's leather goods, accessories and ready-to-wear collections. The slim, St. Laurent marble strip flooring and ebony-clad walls give the room a masculine feel.

A marble staircase leads up to men's shoes and ready-to-wear on the first floor, where the ebony floors and walls and coloured sofas give the area a strong attitude and character.

The rhythm on the first floor is set by the windows and vaulted ceilings: feather-light metal and crystal structures display the men's ready-to-wear, while the display counters have been given a bright blue Saffiano leather touch. Ostrich leather sofas and seats in the same colours complement the interior design.

Women's ready-to-wear is presented in a series of intimate rooms overlooking Via Lagrange; light filtering through slim skylights in the ceiling reflects seductively on the green fabric-clad walls and perspex display shelves. Adding to the sophisticated feel are originally-shaped, perspex-and-steel display tables and the green velvet seats.

Prada

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