Milan’s Rinascente – Ever Elegant
The flagship Rinascente store, in the centre of Milan, has occupied a historic building in Piazza Duomo since 1918. Famous poet, Gabriele D’Annunzio, thought up the name Rinascente and there are now nine large stores in Italy’s main cities which offer a unique high-level shopping experience.
We have recently finished a new Espace Cartier of 30sqm within the store. For this project we were the general contractor and our work was part of a large-scale renovation of the ground floor. Working from the original design supplied by the client, we made any required changes and engineered the project, using light-oak parquet, glass counters, MDF panels covered with fabric and eco-leather as well as the wooden ceiling and plasterboard details. Each part of the space expresses the personality of the brand with its signature colours and symbols: red fabric-covered panels, a champagne-gold painted false ceiling and parquet which recalls the light shades of gold used elsewhere.
We did the millwork for three main elements within the space. We made an interior wall of panels covered in butter-coloured fabric on which we installed two marble wall lights and a large mirror with a champagne-gold coloured frame. On an existing column we created a cladding which is different on each side. On one there is a lightbox with a luminous print. The other sides have screens covered with different fabrics and wallpapers, on which the symbols of the brand are installed. One of these screens hides a useful storage space within. The other element we worked on was the false ceiling. It was made of a single wooden panel painted in champagne-gold, beneath a higher ceiling of white plasterboard. Different spotlights were used depending on the material and finish of the ceiling, to create the perfect lighting effect. The overall atmosphere of the Espace is in perfect harmony with its luxurious surroundings.
Milan has much more to offer visitors than top-end shopping in the “Golden Triangle”. You can also wander through the Navigli District, Milan’s system of interconnected canals, constructed with input from da Vinci himself. Around the canals still visible today there are many bars and restaurants to tempt a visitor, while the world-famous Teatro alla Scala offers a unique operatic experience. Milan’s air of fashionable chic and elegance is irresistible and no visit there is complete without exploring the Rinascente store, where we are proud to have been part of the renovation project.
