New In Delhi: AMPM, Ensemble, And KoAi Mark The City’s Latest Retail Openings
With shopping back on the rise post-pandemic, the retail landscape is now a welcome addition to the streets and is here to stay! Retailers are now detaching themselves from the idea of a traditional store that feels transactional or typical and are attaching themselves to one that is more reminiscent of a sanctuary when it comes to inspiration. With a distinct aesthetic in terms of materiality, colour palette, and contemporary design, what these flagship footprints have in common is a blurring of the lines between fashion and interiors. We bring you an edit of three new stores that manifest the brand’s identity creatively through strategic displays, optimal layout and tactile lighting –
Ankur Modi and Priyanka Modi’s AMPM in DLF Emporio
Designed by Jasika Jabbal of Design Staple, this new boutique channels a monolithic presence as if chiselled out of a boulder and left bare. The store is divided into three main realms – the first is a characterful gallery and foyer that lends a tranquil aura to the visitors while the second is a courtyard with a water body and grit flooring. The third realm is more about a breather and taking in the full experience, with an inviting seating area and a built-in wardrobe curated with the latest pieces. Since DLF Emporio is constructed in a manner that does not allow for external light to flow inside, a faux skylight is incorporated that mimics an actual courtyard with sunlight. The shell and the furniture are given an earthy finish following a singular design vocabulary while the wooden elements lend warmth to the muted surroundings. Due to the uniqueness of the brand’s design and language, all the pieces, barring the wooden chairs from Solid Bench, are custom designed.
Tina Tahiliani Parikh’s ENSEMBLE in Emporio Mall
In continuation of ENSEMBLE’s year-long series of events & collection previews, the New Delhi flagship store reopens in an all-new avatar. The space has transitioned from being just a store to an immersive design experience with dedicated spaces to contemporary, Indian luxe, textile and bridal couture. Ensemble’s signature indigenous design language has been taken forward beautifully by Abhhay Narkar of Vertex Design Studio for this new space.
To stay true to Ensemble’s design language, some old features were retained with their raw finish and contrasted with sleek details. The wooden flooring is complemented with new Burma teak slipper wood flooring creating an interesting play of nostalgia and new interventions. New materials are introduced in wall textures and a chic double metal grid partition nestles with the Ensemble signatures like the Banswara marble, with a hint of brass and rich woodwork. A touch of greens lifts the ambience with a breath of fresh air and adds life to the overall experience.
The new space also offers a platform for designers who want to express their creativity outside of the realm of fashion.
Anugrah Chandra’s KoAi in Chhatarpur
Quintessentially Indian in its roots, KoAi, designed by PORTAL 92 is Anugrah Chandra’s label of elevated essentials paying homage to Rajasthan’s traditional hand-block printing technique: Dabu. Resonating with the brand’s ideology, the design team created a muted backdrop, punctuated and adorned by a repeating modular detail, stamped across the project, much like the Dabu (hand-block) prints. These modules take the form of various functional elements while lending warmth to the textural canvas. This signature elemental language works as a stitch between the space and the brand itself.
Nestled under the shade of the neem tree, the façade is a stark white volume with a ‘Ribbon Window’ which extends and wraps around the corner, breaking free from the preconceived sense of a structure. The louvre detail on the façade is intricately crafted to conceal as well as soften the structural components with natural light filtering in to offer a soothing yet tactile experience.
