the new nino alvarez store by francesc rifé studio opens in madrid

francesc rifé studio designs latest nino alvarez store

Stepping inside the new Nino Alvarez store in Madrid, visitors are met by a futuristic retail interior with sleek, industrial textures and tones. Completed by Francesc Rifé Studio, the project upgrades the Spanish menswear brand’s identity without compromising its fashion philosophy. ‘Although the illusions generated by stainless steel speak of change and experimentation, the classic character of Marquina marble reminds us of the roots and the sophisticated style that has always defined the brand,’ writes the studio.

Typically defined by warm-toned and generous design features, Nino Alvarez’s latest Madrid branch reveals a dramatic shift to minimalism, resorting only to a grayscale color palette that imbues the space with calm and a sense of focus.

all images © Javier Marquez

concrete and steel elevated by dark marble and oak

Going deeper into the material selection, Francesc Rifé Studio (see more here) opted for light gray concrete as a unifying backdrop within the Nino Alvarez store (see more here). Punctuating that neutral backdrop is a tiling of dark and deeply veined marble across several wall surfaces — recalling a large, abstract painting. Meanwhile, a stainless steel backbone takes over the ceiling, extending inwards and downwards to create lighting fixtures, structural supports, and hanging rails.

Staying true to this minimalist approach, the brand chose a limited number of clothing items to put on display — namely shoes, shirts, and jackets — spreading them evenly across different rails, shelves, and rooms to maintain visual ‘lightness’ when visitors peruse the store.

The studio continues: ‘Under the same idea of impartiality, with the black-stained oak wood, we create auxiliary elements, such as tables, display stands, and shelves that radically cross the space, absorbing the structural pillars of the project.’