Sanlitun
Beijing
This was the first store that James designed for Theory. Located in the prestigious Sanlitun area in Beijing, this was the flagship store for China and a new design for the brand which would eventually become the global standard.
The large store covers two floors and approximately 3000 square feet. The façade is entirely made of glass.
After walking around the old city of Beijing, James noticed the old city walls and stones which have been there for centuries mixed in with new modern architecture creating an interesting tension of material and generations. This idea of ancient and modern became the overall theme for the design carrying through to the materials.
Just inside the glass façade, we created a stone wall which spanned over two stories. When he arrived to install, James noticed that the stones were perfect- not one out of place - pristine. He asked one of the workmen for a hammer and began to smash the perfect stones until they looked more like the ancient city walls - much to the dismayed faces of the workers.
The interior of the store has a modern residential feeling with a palette of warm woods and polished concrete, mixed with mid-Century furniture and a huge fireplace. We also commissioned a few local artists to create artwork that was displayed throughout the store. The large pieces on the landing were created by a painter at the local art college; these were rotated every three months.
The result of the store was a warm, modern space which took cues from the old city around it.
