Designed by: @halleroed

Captured by: @cesarbejarstudio

Alaïa’s first flagship store in China occupies two floors at Taikoo Li Sanlitun in Beijing. Developed in collaboration between Creative Director Pieter Mulier and Halleroed, the boutique translates the brand’s defining principles—sensuality, radical minimalism and sculptural form—into an architectural setting. The façade is formed from a solid plane of Carrara marble, punctuated by circular openings inspired by Alaïa’s signature perforated motifs. These windows lighten the mass of the stone while maintaining a calm and monolithic presence.

Inside, curved forms are set against precise geometric elements, reflecting the contrasts that shape the fashion house’s design language. A sweeping marble shelving unit anchors the ground floor, while sculptural display podiums emerge directly from the floor as extensions of the architecture. Rather than functioning as independent objects, the display elements are integrated into the overall spatial composition.

Two cubic chairs designed by Paul Poiret introduce a strong geometric presence within the retail space. On the upper floor, the atmosphere becomes more restrained, providing a setting for the complete Alaïa collection, including ready-to-wear, accessories and essentials.

Seating designed by Philippe Malouin is positioned to frame views towards the façade’s rounded openings, allowing the geometry of the windows to shape the interior experience. Throughout the boutique, stone, furniture and architecture are treated with the same attention to craftsmanship, reinforcing the relationship between material, form and display.