For a luxury brand it totally makes sense to raise one’s profile in a leading fashion capital, and for Swiss cobbler Bally, Milan is just around the corner. The company has made a bold retail statement by opening a flagship store so grand, it’s even baptized Bally Haus. Justifying the name is a prestigious location on the corner of Via Montenapoleone and Via Manzoni in the Duomo district where it rubs shoulders with the flagships of peers from fashion’s upper echelon. Measuring 560 sqm. (6,028 sq.ft.) across three floors of a stately late 18th century building, it features an interior design by acclaimed London-based architecture practice Casper Mueller Kneer. In contrast with the building’s ornate historic façade, the indoor aesthetic is understated yet warm, blending elements of architecture with cues taken from Swiss culture. The entrance is captured by clay and travertine, referencing typical Milanese courtyards, and the way the stone flooring is laid is a nod to the pointillism and abstract style of renowned Swiss-born painter Paul Klee.
The remaining walls are clad ceramic tiles, reminiscent of the home of Bally founder Carl Franz Bally in the Swiss canton of Solothurn. Playing with optical illusion, the staircase leading upstairs mimics double breadth and hints what’s to be found when advancing the premises. The first floor is even more understated, but homey at the same time due to the abundance of oak, handwoven carpets, and seating which allow shoppers to sit back and relax. The top floor is dedicated to Bally‘s womenswear collection, showcased in a setting which channels a chic Milanese apartment, featuring herringbone parquet flooring, handwoven carpets and a modern sofa. The newly opened flagship store is fully wired and comes with iPads for shoppers to browse the full collection and make purchases with delivery at home or at the store, and LED screens which feature the latest brand campaigns. The opening of Bally Haus signals the company’s objective to raise its profile across major shopping destinations across the Old Continent with similar projects.
Bally Haus
Via Montenapoleone 29 (Duomo)
20121 Milan
Telephone: +39 02 76008406
Mon-Sat 10-7
Sun 12-7
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
