Miami Gucci

The showpiece of the store is a sweeping, cantilevered stair.  Agencie engineered the structure and also developed the fabrication model and drawings. The engineering challenge was supporting the 5 ton stair over the lengthy 40ft span. The governing design criteria for this type of structure is vibrations. As the structural engineer, Agencie analyzed the vibrations using a 3D non-linear P-Delta methodology.  We worked hand-in-hand with  Milanese fabricator Arredo Quattro  to develop fabrication drawings.  The steel stair is clad in red-lacquered wood.  Incredibly, the stair was flown by plane from Milan and installed by Milanese craftsman.

The façade is a unique contrast between calacatta marble and pistachio-green powder coated mullions.  The assembly consists of honeycomb panels, structural steel and aluminum rivets. The mullion geometry conceals a back-lit LED element. The façade is topped with planters with lush greenery echoing a tropical aesthetic.  Planters were secured on the rooftop structure to support the foliage.  Additionally, a customized mural adjacent to the storefront is a piece by Spanish artist, Coco Capitan. This distinct visual concept was exclusively for this boutique, embracing the neighborhood known for design and culture. The façade and landscaping is engineered for the rigorous High Velocity Hurricane Zone wind forces and impact.

The interiors were suspended from a ceiling substructure. The result is a space with rich pink fabric walls and a marble mosaic floor. The juxtaposition of this sort, where opposites forge a new connection, is repeated ubiquitously: technical, mechanical display units contrast with the softness of the rich fabrics that wrap the rooms. The upholstered ceilings, matelassé panels and lighting were suspended from the concrete-on-metal-deck and meticulously coordinated with our talented long-time collaborators S4 Architecture. The store is a cross-pollination of the worlds of fashion, art, architecture and engineering.