Neri&Hu Design and Research Office 如恩设计研究室

Piaget Flagship Boutique

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

Piaget Flagship Boutique

Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

INTERIOR DESIGN
Studioparisien

CLIENT
Piaget

MANUFACTURERS
SEED 赛德艺术瓷材

PARTNER IN CHARGE
Lyndon Neri, Rossana Hu

ASSOCIATE IN CHARGE
Lara de Pedro Ubierna

DESIGN TEAM
Ren Tan, Ji Chao, Weili Zhang, Nicolas Fardet

MILLWORK CONSTRUCTION
Kingwood International Enterprises Ltd

DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Lui Design

LIGHTING CONSULTANT
Voyons Voir Lighting Design

FACADE CONTRACTOR
United Engineering Ltd

STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Shanghai Huge Promise Industry Co.Ltd

PHOTOGRAPHS
Kevin Mak

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Hong Kong, China

CATEGORIES
Store

“One can say that the city itself is the collective memory of its people, and like memory it is associated with objects and places. The city is the locus of the collective memory.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

This relationship between the locus and the citizenry then becomes the city’s predominant image, both of architecture and of landscape, and as certain artifacts become part of its memory, new ones emerge.” –Aldo Rossi

Neri&Hu’s design for Piaget’s new storefront on Canton Road draws on the wealth of historic architecture in Kowloon, channeling the innate respect for craftsmanship integral to the watchmaking heritage.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

Bespoke ceramic tiles glazed in nuanced shades of blue lend the store its architectural presence, complemented by an array of customized metals and concrete - all woven together like an exquisite instrument.

The project celebrates the storefront as a jeweled urban monument and repurposes the commercial façade to bring a new monumental presence and civic potency.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

Neri&Hu approached the project with a desire to respond not only to Piaget’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation in the field of choreography but also to the site location itself. Situated in the historic wharf area of Kowloon, this district possesses a set of unique qualities.

Energized by the canton railway, which was once linked to the mainland, it is a vibrant hub for trade and culture, and this dynamic exchange is reflected in the material selections.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

The metalwork makes reference to the site’s industrial past, while the ceramic tiles are sourced from Jingdezhen, a place that has been producing porcelain for over 1,000 years.

Aldo Rossi explained in his seminal work “The Architecture of the City” how memory attaches itself to spatial structures within the built environment.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

Through time these structures are replaced by modern artifacts which re-write upon the canvas of the city, and thus new artifacts become part of the collective memory of the city.

In many ways Canton Road is still synonymous with luxury retail in Hong Kong; over decades, however, with a constant rotation of tenants and their endless competition for attention, it has become increasingly difficult to filter through the chaos.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

Neri&Hu introduces a calm and elegant presence to the storefront condition through the use of authentic crafted materials, whose natural qualities are highlighted by their placement and detailing.

Custom-shaped handmade ceramic tiles, glazed in nuanced shades of deep blue, are framed in bronze.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak

The combination of materials woven together in refined detail injects Piaget’s DNA into its new home on Canton Road.

Much like civic monuments of ancient times, this approach reinforces the notion of architecture as a cultural symbol for the city and a mirror to our shared heritage and values.

Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak


Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak
Piaget Flagship Boutique
© Kevin Mak


Piaget Flagship Boutique
plan
Piaget Flagship Boutique
northeast elevation
Piaget Flagship Boutique
facade sketch

Neri&Hu Design and Research Office 如恩设计研究室
T +8621 5286 2900
Neri&Hu Design and Research Office 如恩设计研究室
322 Jiaozhou Road, Building 31 Jing'an District, Shanghai China 200040 中国上海市静安区胶州路322号31楼