Header: Paul Riddle
Jil Sander has opened a new flagship store on London’s stylish New Bond Street, and it feels different. Designed to look like it was carved from one giant piece of stone, the space focuses on the materials used and how lighting makes you feel when you’re inside. Completed in October 2023, it’s a place designed to create a distinct mood.
Carving out an atmosphere
The architectural minds behind the store are Casper Mueller Kneer Architects. Their vision was to create a solid and whole space, like a sculpture you can walk into. Instead of just building walls and floors, they aimed to create an atmosphere. The design highlights the textures of the materials, inviting visitors to notice the surfaces and enjoy the feel of the space.
Lighting up the levels
Lichtvision Design GmbH, led by Karen Ihlau and Paolo Cocconi, handled the lighting, which plays a huge role in the store’s character. They treated the two floors differently to give each its own vibe.
- Ground Floor: Upstairs feels bright and open, almost like an artist’s studio. The lighting here is soft and natural-looking, creating gentle shadows and a welcoming feel. A special baffled ceiling that lights up from behind greatly impacts how the area looks and feels.
- Lower Floor: Downstairs offers a more private, cozy feeling. Here, the lights are cleverly built into domes that appear to be cut right out of the ceiling structure, adding to the sculpted stone idea.
Focus on feeling and finish
The overall lighting plan carefully manages brightness, using soft differences in light to draw attention to the Jil Sander products without being harsh. The team chose a specific light color (3500K) that gives off a comfortable feeling and highlights the unique blueish color in the travertine stone used throughout. The goal was a calm, elegant environment that doesn’t feel overly lit. This careful approach to lighting earned Lichtvision Design a LIT Lighting Design Award for Fashion Design Lighting.
Smart and sustainable choices
Thinking about the environment was also part of the design. The lighting fixtures chosen are built to last long and perform well. Significantly, they can be repaired, and their parts can be recycled. Simple controls manage the lighting efficiently, with settings for daytime, nighttime, and a “curfew” setting that turns lights off late at night to save energy. It shows how luxury retail can also be mindful of its environmental impact.
Project info
Lighting Design/Product Company: Lichtvision Design GmbH
Lead Designers: Karen Ihlau, Paolo Cocconi
Architecture Company: Casper Mueller Kneer Architects
Client: Jil Sander
Photo Credit: Paul Riddle
Other Credits Contractor: Lamberti Construction
Completion Date: October 2023
Project Location: London, United Kingdom
