The 620sqm of glass, some of it printed, lends the building a visual lightness and creates a harmonious link with the round arches in stainless steel. The two 12mm plies making up the laminated glass panes are up to approx. 5.1m high x 1.7m wide. Digital printing was used to apply the randomly positioned white stripes to the glass, which still permits views in and out. The clear areas without printing are larger on the display windows. Besides the stainless steel arches, backlit logos of the designer brand are also attached to the laminated glass. The cables supplying the power to the logos are laminated into the glass.
In order to check the design and the performance in advance, seele built mock-ups of two element types and tested them in Gersthofen. In addition to the visual effect, it was also necessary to test the assembly, because the arch elements were not attached to the laminated glass until after arrival on site. Only a narrow time-slot of just a few weeks was available for designing, testing and manufacturing all the elements.
This project was a follow-up to seele’s successful involvement in the spectacular Fendi Flagship Store in Beverly Hills, USA. The new Fendi Store in Tokyo opened in 2017.
Header image: © Malcolm Fairman
