CURIEL CASA Merges Milanese design with Chongqing’s Geology
Positioned at Chongqing’s Liberation Monument Pedestrian Street, the CURIEL CASA Flagship Store marks the Chinese expansion of the century-old Italian fashion house CURIEL. The project, led by Liang Architecture Studio and debuting in midsummer 2024, operates as both a commercial space and a spatial interpretation of the brand’s ethos, merging Italian heritage with the cultural and topographic context of Chongqing’s mountainous landscape. The architectural concept establishes a dialogue between the refined codes of Milanese fashion and the geological narratives embedded in Chongqing’s built environment. Through a careful layering of symbolic references and material articulation, the project translates CURIEL’s philosophy of ‘feminine elegance and empowerment’ into a site-specific spatial framework. The result is an immersive sequence of architectural expressions that align brand identity with localized cultural cues.
Drawing upon the performative traditions of Italian opera, particularly the influence of Teatro alla Scala, the spatial layout follows an operatic progression, from overture to crescendo to climax. The entrance, central spiral staircase, exhibition zones, and the concluding salon are composed as sequential stages within a choreographed visitor journey. Architectural elements such as curtain-inspired drapy surfaces, theatrical lighting, and scenographic partitions reinforce this temporal and spatial structure, transforming spatial circulation into a narrative experience. Referencing Milan’s historic streetscapes and architectural vocabulary, the design integrates ornamental restraint with tectonic clarity. A deep understanding of ‘Made in Italy’ craftsmanship, particularly the tactile interplay of surface textures, structural precision, and detail-driven execution, guides the material choices. Within this framework, classical and contemporary elements are brought into balance, while Western and Eastern aesthetics are bridged through material and formal strategies.
all images by Hanmo (Hangzhou) Photography Co., LTD
Liang Architecture’s CURIEL CASA references Scenographic Spaces
From the exterior, the facade introduces the store’s narrative intent. A crimson architectural veil, designed through parametric modeling, forms a pleated surface reminiscent of an opera curtain. Made from anodized aluminum, the facade modulates shadow and reflection throughout the day, acting as both a visual overture and a spatial threshold. Inside, the spiral staircase serves as the structural and symbolic core, its tiered geometry softened by diffused light, evoking silk drapery in motion. The juxtaposition of this kinetic form with the surrounding stone elements sets up a dialogue between movement and mass, impermanence and solidity. Cultural localization continues in the VIP lounge, where parametric reinterpretation of traditional bamboo weaving techniques articulates partitions and wall surfaces. These interventions, constructed through a logic of digital deconstruction and rhythmic sequencing, embed the intangible heritage of Chongqing into the architectural language. As light interacts with the translucent bamboo matrix, the space evokes a calibrated sense of depth and material memory.
The design team at Liang Architecture Studio extends scenographic control to the selection of furnishings and environmental elements throughout the project. Referencing the iconography of La Traviata, the CURIEL Salon is designed as an immersive theatrical interior. Furniture arrangements, lighting compositions, and sensory cues, including scent, work together to construct a spatial mise-en-scène where historical narratives are recontextualized within contemporary retail experience. At a conceptual level, the flagship operates as a synthesis of cultural semiotics and spatial narrative. Through material symbolism, spatial sequencing, and local references, the architecture serves as a medium for brand expression and emotional engagement. It reconstructs the relationship between user, space, and identity, using architectural form to translate heritage into contemporary resonance.
project info:
name: CURIEL CASA Chongqing Flagship Store
architect: Liang Architecture Studio
location: No. 188, Minzu Road, Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
area: 899 sqm
design director: Xu Liang
design team: Zhou Zesi, Yu Jianzhi, Ze Man, Hu Xinping, Lu Xin, Chen Weixin, Zhang Xuan, Xu Liang
construction company: Shanghai Fuji Construction Engineering Co., LTD
soft furnishing design: Hangzhou Liang Architecture Studio
photographer: Hanmo (Hangzhou) Photography Co., LTD
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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