Nine years after FENDI first opened a boutique in Miami‘s flourishing Design District, the iconic Roman fashion house has expanded next door and fully revamped the premises, and yes, all just in time for this year’s edition of Art Basel Miami Beach. The façade of the store has been modified, featuring arches, and now resembles that of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana a.k.a. FENDI‘s headquarters in Rome. The façade is crafted from custom-made 3D glass bricks of different shapes and depths are assembled in a design reminiscent of ocean waves, a clear reference to Miami. In Paseo Ponti, the side street, a special gallery on the store’s exterior features custom light pink tiles on the walls and ceiling, adorned with the FF logo. Upon entering the retail space, shoppers find FENDI‘s elaborate collection of women’s bags, small leather goods and accessories.

The unique geometric floor, made of Patagonia and Travertine marble, is inspired by the marble patterns of Rome‘s Temple of Venus, the venue where FENDI‘s A/W 2019-20 Couture collection was shown. The hand-tasseled carpet recalls the footpaths along the Tiber river in Rome, and features curved designs in Miami-inspired pastel colours such as greens and pinks. Also on the ground floor, shoppers come across a series of carefully sourced furnishings, such as the Jia chair by design studio Atelier de Troupe, the Universe round table by Arda Yeniay of Studio Twentyseven gallery, and Yeniay’s Marula chair. The ribbed travertine walls with archival details of the FF logo blend with silver and champagne-coloured metal accents and the warmth of the walnut wood to create a luxurious and inviting space.

Roberto Sironi‘s bespoke display table features an inverted arch design and is made from Rima marble, the same material that is used for the unique artwork designed by Sironi, which recalls the hand stitching of the “Selleria”, which has been part of FENDI‘s design codes since the company’s inception in 1925. The FENDI yellow marble stitching continues from the first to second floor, on the ribbed travertine walls that recall the columns of Roman architecture. A light walnut staircase with a backdrop of shiny metal panels eads to the second floor, where a spacious yet intimate space unfolds. The Patagonia and Travertine marble floors are again accented with handwoven graphic rugs in blue and green hues inspired by the city’s skyline.

The men’s collection is contrasted by displays of champagne metal and Patagonia materials and ribbed travertine walls, and is beautifully decorated with a dedicated seating area surrounding furniture from Studio TwentySeven gallery, a design-oriented seating area by Emmanuelle Simon, and once again, a travertine Universe round table by Arda Yeniay. The women’s area sees a wall made from handmade vitro-fused glass which is connected to the façade. A display table by FENDI Casa enhances the space, while a highly designed seating area by Alter Ego and Charlotte Biltgen creates a luxurious living space. For the most discerning of shoppers, a private VIC area is readily available, featuring gradient fringe curtains in shades of pink to ivory accent the stainless steel walls. This exclusive space is furnished with FENDI Casa furniture and a custom concrete artwork by Italian artist Edoardo Piermattei. © superfuture