Villa Moda Kuwait Shop, Souk al-Manshar

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar, Kuwait City Store, Shop, Photo, Boutique Design

Villa Moda Kuwait Shop

Middle East department store for luxury brands – design by eldridge smerin Architects

13 Jun 2011

Villa Moda Kuwait City

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar Kuwait

Design: eldridge smerin, Architects

Eldridge Smerin was recommended by Wallpaper* magazine and Wink Media to Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah, the dynamic fashion entrepreneur who was planning to develop a new department store for luxury brands on the waterfront of Kuwait City. His vision was for a state-of-the-art retail experience.

Villa Moda Kuwait Villa Moda Kuwait Villa Moda Kuwait Villa Moda Kuwait
photos : Ake Son Lindman

Eldridge Smerin was responsible for the design of Villa Moda’s main entrance area and lounge, public spaces and staircases, two levels of multi-brand fashion space, restaurant and café managed by the Caprice group, as well as the landscaping around the building. Eldridge Smerin’s design captures the spirit of the Gulf region while creating a totally contemporary and leisurely shopping environment fused with a unique graphic identity by Wink Media.

The glass envelope of the building was surrounded by a field of 12 metre high silver steel masts designed to move with the wind. The smooth facades play against the richness of layering and shadow produced by these evocative elements, which wrap the building.

These sculptural features also appear in the new landscaped park between the building and the waterfront overlooked by the restaurant and café situated on the ground floor. These calm and sophisticated spaces house a sculptural white structure within the double height volumes creating a mix of small and open dining areas. A dramatic rooflight runs the full 30 metre length of the adjoining multibrand retail spaces, which are flanked by hard wood slatted screens and generously sized changing rooms.

Villa Moda Kuwait images / information from eldridge smerin

eldridge smerin architects, London, UK

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

New Kuwait Architecture

Contemporary Kuwait Architectural Selection

Kuwaiti Architecture Designs – chronological list

Villa Moda
Design: Sybarite
Villa Moda Kuwait Boutique
image from architect
Villa Moda Kuwait Boutique

Retail Buildings

Kuwaiti Buildings – Selection

Al Hamra Firdous Tower project, Kuwait City
SOM Architects
Kuwait City Tower
image © Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Kuwait City Tower : MIPIM/Architectural Review “Future Project” Award 2008

Al Sharq Tower Building
Architects: Atkins
Al Sharq Tower
picture : Atkins
Al Sharq Tower

City of Silk, Subbiya, Kuwait Bay
Eric Kuhne & Associates
City of Silk
picture from architect
City of Silk : massive city-scaled waterfront development, incl. new airport + seaport

Shop Designs

Comments / photos for the Villa Moda Kuwait Architecture page welcome