Alfonso Marina has recently unveiled its very own flagship store in the heart of Mexico City. True to the nature of the brand, the architects at Materia and Gustavo Carmona created a space that blends architecture, art, and design. Due to the brand’s rich heritage and its passion for craftsmanship, the new store’s wonder is in the details.
Starting the journey
Spanning 11,650 square feet across four levels, the Alfonso Marina flagship store is not just a retail space; it’s a multi-sensory journey of light, textures, and scales. The external volume serves as an entry point, inviting the visitors over into an underground world where several vaults showcase Alfonso Marina’s most iconic pieces.
As one enters the building, a staircase is settled beneath a canopy of wooden ceilings and walls, creating a rhythm that’s warm and inviting. This descent into the store is enveloped by shadows contrasted by light, disconnecting the visitors from the outside world and allowing them to prepare themselves for the art that is to come.
The whole journey can be described as a temple of tradition and craftsmanship. The stone facade of the building acts as a canvas, capturing the dynamic interplay of light and shadows throughout the day. It’s a representation of the brand’s ethos – the intersection of art, nature, and humanity.
Within the Museum
Within the flagship store, the Museum is located in a series of volumes and voids that create layers of light and niches, opening into other dimensions of the store. Here, angled perspectives play with the visitor’s perceptions. The main gallery, divided into different platforms and landings, showcases Alfonso Marina’s unique furniture pieces. Each item is illuminated by natural light wells, putting great emphasis on the brand’s design philosophy and craftsmanship.
The flagship store also has a design workshop, which is visible from the Museum, allowing visitors to leap into the creative process behind the art. Each bit and piece, like the lighting by Luca Salas and the millwork by Wetimber, contributes to the creation of a sophisticated atmosphere.
The architects, Materia and Gustavo Carmona, along with their team of collaborators, created an environment that offers more than the normal retail experience. Through the thoughtful layout, the flagship store is quite versatile: it showcases Alfonso Marina’s artistic furniture and creates an immersive experience of tradition and craftsmanship.
