sophie hicks designs translucent box for acne studios' seoul flagship store

known for attention to detail, experimental use of materials, and an emphasis on tailoring, stockholm-based fashion house acne studios has opened its korean flagship in the heart of seoul’s cheongdam district. designed by british architect sophie hicks, the design celebrates and reflects the clothing brand’s paired-back and refined aesthetics. on the outside, the standalone building is visualized as a restrained and translucent lightbox. clad fully with polycarbonate panels — emphasizing the soft diffusion of light from within — the scheme exudes a ghostly yet minimalist character and obscures the contrasting layout of the interiors.

all images by annabel elston, courtesy of acne studios

organized over two levels, the interiors are enveloped in exposed concrete and supported by four pairs of columns in the same material. restricting the use of embellishment and décor, sophie hicks and acne studios placed the focus on the men and women’s ready-to-wear clothing on display. reflecting the pattern used on the boardwalks adjacent to the stockholm archipelago, texture has been added to the concrete by imprinting the surfaces with rough timber. along with having no windows, mechanical equipment, ducts, and pipes have been placed on the roof. cultivating a distinctive atmosphere, the result is a pristine environment that is purposely disconnected from the outside.

the design celebrates and reflects the clothing brand’s refined aesthetics

clothing will be shown against softly reflective metal walls, freestanding in the open space

the cheongdam store carries men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, denim, and accessories

the building sits on vegetation typically grown and found in the swedish landscape