Celine first opened its boutique on Omotesando dori, arguably Tokyo‘s most prestigious shopping artery, in 2003. Situated on the ground floor of One Omotesando, a mixed-use building by acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, it’s considered as the brand’s main boutique in the Land of the Rising Sun. Te retail space measures no less than 700 sqm. (7,535 sq.ft.) spread across three floors, and has just seen a major revamp which features Celine‘s newest retail design codes as laid down by creative director Hedi Slimane. The lofty ground floor sees a backdrop of white walls, polished gold brass and mirrored surfaces, and shelving units with chrome finishings for mirror-clad cabinets and a wide range of carefully sourced range of furnishings. The latter, comprising largely pieces crafted from timber and leather, counterbalance the abstract palatial grandeur, adding not only a warm note, but also human scale to the settings. Antique gold mirrors are placed off-centre, allowing shoppers a view of the monumental helical staircase which reveals Snake X, a commissioned sculpture crafted from copper and steel by Canadian artist Elaine Cameron-Weir.
The ground floor is home to Celine‘s leather goods and small leather goods, the haute parfumerie collection, and jewellery. A Parisian-style salon setting furnished with Brutalist design pieces and artworks leads to a second staircase situated behind a smoked glass panel. Here, the full women’s apparel collection is presented. This floor also features a glass-encased private room which overlooks bustling Omotesando dori. The store’s basement section, equally splendorous, features a gold polished brass wall which separates Celine‘s men’s apparel collection from the men’s leather goods and accessories. Boosting the visual drama, is flooring of Basaltina stone, paired with walls covered in travertine, black lacquer, chromed metal and large mirrors. Similar to the upper floors, a seating arrangement allows shoppers to sit back in between shopping sprees on specially designed furniture by Slimane. Needless to say, the Celine Art Project makes its mark on the premises with an additional selection of striking artworks, including paintings by Chris Succo and John Isaacs, and sculptures by Cameron Platter and David Nash.
Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates
Images © Celine