The interiors of the New York Alexander McQueen store that inspired those in London and Milan.

In collaboration with Alexander McQueen, one of the leading lights of contemporary haute couture fashion, interiors for McQueen's retail environments in London, Milan and New York were developed that sought to re-conceptualize the traditionally static store interior. The New York flagship was the first undertaking, with the design concepts of the London and Milan stores following suit. A sense of intimacy and ethereality were created in each location through the use of dynamic forms influenced by nature, the effect is so that customers leave the street and enter another world.

Halogen-lit columns give the spaces an ethereal glow.

The interiors for all three McQueen environments are elegant and ethereal with display systems internally lit by halogen bulbs seamlessly suspended from the ceiling, giving the impression they are floating. Plush detailing and a limited material and color palette lend the interiors a sensual, refined atmosphere that both reflects and supports the luxurious qualities and craftsmanship of McQueen’s work. Straight lines have been removed and the different spaces of the stores were designed to organically flow into one another.

The London store on Old Bond Street the architectural highlight of which is the ceiling.

In the London store, the ceiling is the architectural highlight. “Everything is attached from above, giving way to a vacuous space between the floor and the ceiling.” explains McQueen. “This means that the pieces hang naturally, as gravity would intend."

Display cases appear to be suspended from the ceiling.

Sensuous curves give the space an organic appeal.

As with the New York and London environments, in Milan the space was conceived as if carved or hollowed out of a solid block rather than constructed piece by piece. Conceptually, there are only two surfaces—the ceiling/wall and the terrazzo carpet. The walls curve seamlessly into the ceiling, which in turn arcs down to form the floating display cabinets as if they are all the same homogenous block.

As in the other environments, in Milan organic lines define the space.

The interiors have a graceful sculptural quality.

The MIlan display cases are carved out of a solid block.