WALL sculpts a monolithic concrete staircase for dress boutique in russia

architecture studio WALL designed a boutique for the renowned russian premium brand rasario. the minimal boutique, for cocktail and evening dresses, is located in moscow, on the smolenskaya embankment in a building of built in the 1950s. for the project, the architects of WALL studio created a flexible and  transformable art space, the center of which was a monolithic concrete staircase sculpture. the result is a monochromatic interior space that highlights the minimal architecture – clean arches repeat rhythmically throughout the space creating a unique experience for the clients. 

the interior of the boutique consists of showrooms on the first and second floors, as well as fitting rooms, office and production parts. WALL designed dynamic arched openings and mirrors help to visually expand the space, creating the impression of an endless, far-reaching corridor. for the project, materials were chosen in a restrained gray-black palette: venetian plaster, mirrors, glass and black-painted metal. custom made metallic medallions on the floor, reference  an ancient city square. 

ruben arakelyan, head of the architectural studio, said their design ‘was an attempt to make a boutique look like a museum space. we wanted to avoid directly quoting the interior as a showroom, by reading the interior as a multifunctional urban space. all proportional solutions, perception plots, visual images, and details strive to create the impression of a ‘second square’ or ‘second street’, where all visitors become part of the theatrical action in the art space.’

project info:

design: WALL

project team head: arakelyan ruben 

chief architect: kristina arakelyan 

architects: churilova yana, kornishin peter 

layouts: vladimir kozitsky, fyodor mikhailov 

engineering solutions: tes 

photography: ilya ivanov 

completion year: 2020

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom