Luca Faloni: decorative elements, finishes, colors, materials, and shapes inspired by the local context

After opening the first stores, Luca Faloni decided to work with PlaC studio to create a new concept for future stores. The project starts with an in-depth analysis of the brand's values, aiming to translate and synthesize them into site-specific interior design.

Every store features decorative elements, finishes, colors, materials, and shapes inspired by the local context to pay homage to their cities while maintaining some signature features that make these spaces a natural extension of the brand's identity. We choose to create places seamlessly integrated into their surroundings, offering a luxurious shopping experience that is unique and deeply connected to their surroundings.

• In Munich, acid-etched copper powder panels reference copper roofs while the mezzanine features mannequins reminiscent of the Rathaus-Glockenspiel in Marienplatz.
• In Milan, the store is housed in a building by Portaluppi and honors him with geometric plaster ceiling decorations and an entrance inspired by his work for the Silk Waste Spinning Company.
• The Miami store, inspired by Miami Beach's Art Deco style, uses pastel colors, geometric decorations, and symmetries and the ceiling design reflects beach resorts and boat sails.
• In London, the design draws from the tiled cladding of underground stations and pubs, with Italian tiles in the shop details.
• In the Zurich store, the column cladding uses green onyx, influenced by Lake Zurich, and Viroc wall paneling echoes Swiss architecture.

Reflecting the brand's approach of offering men's clothing with meticulous research on new products, we created spaces that could be as flexible as possible and able to adapt to future developments, so that they could easily be adjusted to different configurations, according to the store needs and to the products to display, all the while maintaining a local identity. Inspired by Franco Albini's museum masterpieces, we thus designed a display system emphasizing spatial and setup flexibility and providing a continuity element recognizable in every shop.
All stores share a flexible modular wall system, allowing easy installation of walnut shelves and drawers, hanging bars, mirrors, displays for fabrics and belts, and other elements for product display. The wood paneling varies in finish depending on the location, using materials like copper, linen with Faloni fabric, brushed aluminum, or wood-cement panels. The shelf and drawer tops are made of Carrara marble, travertine, or white lasa with green veins.

"The project captured our Luca Faloni's essence, translating Italian craftsmanship, elegance, and attention to detail into the interior design of our new stores. Their flexible modular system lets us showcase our products beautifully and adapt to future needs. Each store uniquely honors its location, from Munich’s copper panels to Miami’s Art Deco influences. The innovative designs perfectly blend our brand values with local inspirations, creating a refined and cohesive shopping experience."

Credits

City: London
State: United Kingdom
Client: Luca Faloni LTD
Intended use: Manswear store
Completion:  10/2023
Gross Floor Area: 400 mq
Costs:  1,300,000.00 €
Architects: Davide Barreri, Andrea Alessio, Ilaria Ariolfo
Design team: Chiara Bertetti, Michele Simonetti
Main Contractor: Taramelli UK LTD
Consultants: Building Control: LB Building Control - Structures: MBP Consulting Engineers - Local Architect: Omnide - Health and Safety: AGA Ltd - Andrew Goddard Associates Ltd
Suppliers: Bespoke furnitures (designed by PlaC Architecture): Brugnotto - Ready made furnitures: Cantarutti, Cassina - Lights: TraianoLuce73 (Artemide, Viabizzuno, Astep, Vibia)
Photo Credits: Lorenzo Zandri

Curriculum

PlaC thinks its work as the result of a collaborative process, combining a critical research regarding the city/territory, construction processes and design with a continuous attention to contemporary ways of living.

PlaC focuses on enhancing existing qualities, built and unbuilt, to evolve in something always unexpected through time and their inhabitants. Strengthening of identities, adaptability of program and flexibility of spaces are our main tools.

PlaC has an international experience in project management and has developed projects in Italy, India, Germany, USA and UK; our works have been selected and awarded in different international competitions in Italy, Croatia, Finland, Germany, France, Norway and Spain.

Since 2014 PlaC is bringing together experiences and developing expertises through private and public projects, design workshops, theoretical researches and academic teaching at Politecnico di Torino and IED design institute.

https://pla-c.eu/