DESIGN UPDATE

A nose for detail

AIC ARREDO COMPLETES THE FIT-OUT OF AN 18TH-CENTURY ST YLE FRENCH PERFUMERY
UAE: Parfums de Marly has opened a shop in a shop in Dubai Malls Paris Gallery, collaborating with French design agency, Open D Group and AIC Arredo t-out, part of AIC Gruppo. The retail outlet offers contemporary fragrances based on its original concept emulating the splendour of 18th century France and Louis XV. Francesco Aveta, co-founder of AIC Design and AIC Arredo, which has an of ce in Dubai Investment Park, said the attention to detail, selection of material and colours combined with the design are meant to imprint a piece of old France on everyone who visits the perfume shop. Open D Group developed the entire retail concept for the brand inspired by the royal history of Parfums de Marly and created its retail and merchandising including key visuals, coffrets (casket), glori ers, gondolas and wall units. Perfume was popular with the court of Louis XV, named La cour parfumee (the perfumed court). Every day, the king requested different scents for his apartments and streams of aromatic scents sprang from the royal fountains. In 1743, Louis XV commissioned Guillaume Coustou to sculpt his masterpiece The Marly horses, in memory of his great-grandfather Louis XIV on the grounds of the Chateau de Marly. Today, the Marly horses can be admired at Champs Elysees Avenue, Paris where it earned its place in 1974. The brief was to pursue the story of the modern fragrance onto a highly visible French XVIII century environment. The detailing and expectations of the quality was high to ensure brand differentiation at the point of sale, said Aveta. He said the white crytalised marble is from Turkey and the black marquina marble is from Spain. The black upholstered fabric at the is charactertistic of the capiton style with gold buttons. The black cabinets and chairs were supplied by the owner himself from France while the chandelier and two wall lights come from Voltolina Murano Glass in Italy. We have recreated a speci c style from that era of 18th century France but we try to give it a modern edge. The main theme is the use of black and white to give it a contemporary, fresh, feel, he added. Even though its built in an antique style, it appeals to everyone. Being a French Design Agency, with of ces in Paris, New York, Singapore and Dubai, Open D Group said its art directors and studio team is strongly in uenced by French history and heritage, therefore it did not need to look far for inspiration.

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NOVEMBER 2011 | Commercial Interior Design

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