Decidedly bigger than life, Dubai has long seen an influx of high-net-worth individuals, and as of late, even at an accelerated pace. Accordingly, the city’s retail landscape is as diverse as it is sizeable, especially in the upper segment, making it the ultimate destination in the Middle East for in-the-know power shoppers. Anticipating the tinseltown’s fast-growing market, LOEWE has raised its profile with the opening of a new flagship store at what’s arguably the city’s leading luxury shopping centre—The Dubai Mall. Flanked by boutiques of peers from fashion’s top echelon, such as Brunello Cuccinelli, Moncler, Balmain and Chloé, the so-called Casa LOEWE. occupies a 474 sqm. (5,102 sq.ft.) unit on the ground floor, and features an interior design by the luxury brand’s prolific creative director Jonathan Anderson.
The interior design takes cues from the lavish premises of neighbouring LOEWE retail spaces in neighbouring Abu Dhabi and Doha, and features settings infused with natural materials, vibrant tones and industrial finishes, and all anchored by distinctive artistic touches that elevate the shopping experience. Hand-glazed and enamelled Spanish tiles in a deep Burgundy colour allow the shop façade to stand out from the generic shopping centre environment, but continue indoors in different alluring hues, such as grey and gold. Here, the exuberant colours are paired a more demure palette that’s captured by poured concrete flooring and timber shelving. Marble and glass podiums, a signature LOEWE detail, are scattered throughout the premises create new sightlines, while brass and black metal rails bring a delicate solidity. The premises are dotted with a selection of carefully selected furnishings that add a personal touch, such as Gerrit Rietveld’s robust Utrecht and Steltman chairs and designer Axel Vervoordt’s slate table.
Additional pieces include a trio of specially commissioned benches created by Brazilian artist and LOEWE Craft Prize finalist Domingos Tótora, Isamu Noguchi’s Akari lamps, and last but not least, artisanal wool carpets crafted in Spain and designed by longstanding collaborator John Allen. The refined cultural layering of Casa LOEWE continues with a collection of artworks by various artists that have been curated just as carefully. The in-store collection includes a wall tapestry by John Allen and an oil painting, entitled Bushes with Blue Flowers, by Bill Lynch, a sculpture by Kazuhito Takadoi that’s intricately constructed from hawthorn twigs and waxed linen twine, and Joanna Constantinidis spiral vase. The newly opened Casa LOEWE carries the brand’s full range of women’s and men’s apparel, accessories, bag, shoes, eyewear, fragrances and home products.
Casa LOEWE
The Dubai Mall, Financial Centre Road, Ground Floor (Downtown Dubai)
Dubai
Telephone: +974 4 2590478
Mon-Wed 10am-11pm
Thu-Sat 10am-midnight
Sun 10am-10pm
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.
