OMA / AMO creates stone

OMA / AMO has created stone-like interiors for Stone Island, an Italian luxury men's apparel and accessories brand, emphasizing the identity of the brand.

The 180-square-metre retail store, led by AMO Director Samir Bantal and with Natalie Konopelski, Giulio Margheri and Mateusz Kiercz, is located in Chicago and has opened to the public on October 20.

The new store represents the brand's first store in Chicago, while the brand is expecting to open its new stores in Seoul, Munich and Stockholm.

Stone Island's research and experimentation on design and product manipulation defines the new stores, which are also spaces to share its wealth of experiences with its communities.

OMA / AMO's new design brings multi-leveled focus by using stone-like palette with rigid forms, round textures, and smooth transitions - from surfaces to three dimensional objects.

The new concept creates altar-like spaces highlighting Stone Island's devotion to technology and development, shared by its followers.

The team creates niches for archival pieces and prototypes to showcase the results of years of experimentation in Stone Island's lab in their Ravarino headquarters, they represent past thinking and future ambitions about product design.

The space is not only conceived as a store, beyond shop opening hours, the space will also host public presentations, salons, workshops, and private events.

"The stores form a base for current and new customers, complementing the brand's online presence," said OMA /AMO.

The team translates Stone Island's approach into the new ways of using materials - from typical into unique inspires and informs the new stores’ design by OMA / AMO.

"Research and innovation are at the core of Stone Island. The space, materiality, and program of the stores underpin the brand's ethos, and reinforce a sense of belonging of its community of like-minded people," said AMO Director Samir Bantal.

The interior design is formed with specially treated off-the-shelf materials – without actual concrete or stone.

For example, the team used shredded paper and resins that are compressed under high pressure to create durable "concrete panels". Another material is cork, which is the central material to the Stone Island stores.

Here, cork is burnt, sandblasted and coated, turning dark and textured, while its sound-absorbing, humidity-controlling features are maintained.

Rooms are clad in corrugated steel panels, sand-coated, acquire a soft surface. A large digital chandelier, suspended from the ceiling, broadcasts Stone Island's culture to its community.

"Stone Island and AMO share values of innovation, functionality, and passion. I am very happy to begin this important partnership, a new visual approach for our stores, to speak to our communities," said Stone Island Creative Director and President Carlo Rivetti.

AMO, the think-tank of the architectural practice OMA, recently completed a cavernous interior with peachy colors for French fashion brand Jacquemus' shop-in-shop boutique at Selfridges in London.

AMO's other shop-in-shop boutique for Jacquemus features white pillows that guide the space in Paris, France.

Project facts

Status: Completed

Client: Stone Island

Location: Chicago

Program: Retail

AMO Director: Samir BantalProject Leaders: Natalie Konopelski, Giulio Margheri, Mateusz Kiercz

Team

Concept: Samir Bantal, Marina Bonet, Valerio Di Festa, Kael Fineout, Camille Filbien, Giulio Margheri, Mateusz Kiercz, Natalie Konopelski, Adam Kouki, Andrea Masini

Stores: Samir Bantal, Kael Fineout, Mateusz Kiercz, Andrea Masini, Giovanni Nembrini, Caterina Solini

Collaborators: Tim Hooijmans, Tim Teven Studio, Elvis Wesley, Studio Corkhino

All photographs © Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of OMA / AMO and Stone Island.

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