Malone Souliers, Villaggio Mall Doha
Retail / Villaggio Mall, Doha / August 2018 / 28 sqm
Nick Leith Smith Architecture + Design first collaboration with Malone Souliers results in a visually arresting, first store in the Qatari capital. The bold British luxury footwear brand blends an eclectic range of European modernist influences by featuring adventurous colour combinations and an avant-garde selection of original designer furniture pieces.
The inspirations for this 28 sq m space, a freestanding pavilion located in Doha’s Villaggio Mall, was rooted in Dutch De Stijl movement, also known as Neoplasticism. Colour, texture, printed fabric and transparency collide in the structure to create a visual assault on the eye that reflects the daring approach of the Malone Souliers brand.
A crafted bronze frame around the exterior creates an irregular rubix cube effect, with panel colours of deep blue with the occasional pink. The entrances are announced with deep orange coloured doors. The colour palette of the interior is defined by lacquered panels in dark blue, orange and pink. A variety of fabrics with the latest Emanuel Ungaro patterns sit alongside one another, while irregular shelves and framed metal boxes create niches for display, puncturing the grid effect on the walls.
A boldly curated selection of furniture showcases the diversity of design influences that fed the vision for this new space. The P6 Silla armchair by Milan-based furniture line Marta Sala Éditions, marries modernist lines with sumptuous details and is covered in a luxurious, cream-coloured fabric, adding a soft accent to the pavilion’s strong composition. Continuing the Italian theme is a white and blue leather Dezza armchair by Gio Ponti, which was part of his private house in Via Dezza, Milan.
The Se Beetley Small Bridge armchair, by Se Collections, is inspired by the body shape of beetles and brings a dynamic and innovative touch to the space. Meanwhile, upholstered in a red glossy leather, the Chrome Club chair and Ottoman set make a strong Art Deco statement, contrasting with pink panels and orange entrances.
Located in the Aspire Zone in the west end of Doha, the Villaggio Mall receives approximately 50,000 shoppers daily, housing some of the world’s finest luxury brands in its Venetian-style interior. The prime location in the Middle East of this new space provides the Malone Souliers brand with a remarkable platform to engage new customers in the region.