New Giorgio Armani boutique in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan
Fantini Mosaici’s surfaces and Giorgio Armani’s fashions blend harmoniously in the newly opened Giorgio Armani boutique in central Milan’s historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
The talents of two of Italy’s most highly regarded companies have been brought together in one of Milan’s premier shopping destinations, where exquisitely restored marble flooring and walls in marble provide the perfect backdrop for Armani’s latest fashion collection.
The 300-metre square store was designed by the great fashion maestro Giorgio Armani, working with a team of specialised architects to ensure that the new boutique's renovation would be respectful and in harmony with the 19th-century building in which it is located.
One of the eye-catching elements of the boutique is that the floor inside the retail space is a continuation of the marble and mosaic floor design running through the whole Galleria space. This effortless flow creates an inviting and welcoming experience.
In fact, Fantini Mosaici has enjoyed a century-long relationship with the Galleria Vittorio Manuelle II, as the company’s forefathers, who established Fantini Mosaici over 120 years ago, contributed to elements of the magnificent original floor.
During the renovation of the boutique the contractors discovered a hidden marble floor that had been installed by Fantini Mosaici for a previous occupant. As a result, Fantini Mosaici was invited back to meticulously restore the floors using Italian Red and White Verona, and Grey Bardiglio marbles.
From the moment visitors enter the Giorgio Armani boutique, through the centrally located doors flanked by two large windows, they are met with a balanced space where symmetry and geometric shapes and patterns are prominent. The area remains loyal to its historic past, while noble polished marble and mosaic materials and lime-washed Brenta wall panels adorn the surfaces, bringing the interior to life and into the 21st century.
The two-floor space oozes refinement, from the duo-toned dove grey and ivory marble-clad walls in the ladies’ section to the new terrazzo flooring in the lower basement floor that houses the menswear collection.
One of the new architectural elements is the contemporary staircase in Venetian Terrazzo that gently links the ground floor to the basement. This modern centrepiece perfectly marries with the original space's ribbed ceiling vaults and arched portals.
Using traditional methods and techniques, the Fantini Mosaici master artisans laid the terrazzo floor in the basement, using the same shades of gold and beige seen on the first floor.
A large LED screen wall has been embedded in the majestic floor-to-ceiling mirrors that simultaneously enlarge the space and reflect the symmetrical details of the noble materials on the walls and floors.
The boutique is furnished with minimal silver ash furniture, opulent silk curtains and sumptuous silk carpets on top of the marble flooring.
Over the decades, family-owned Fantini Mosaici has been involved in the restoration and the installation of new surfaces in many of the prestigious restaurants and boutiques housed in the 19th-century structure, which was built by the Savoia family and is often said to be one of the world’s first shopping malls.
The Fantini Mosaici team has been involved with the mosaic, marble and terrazzo surfaces in the Savini Milan and Michelin-starred Cracco restaurants, as well as the Prada and Marchesi boutiques. Recently the company also contributed to the new Moncler boutique in the world-famous Galleria, often referred to as ‘il salotto di Milano' – the living room of Milan.
Milan-based Fantini Mosaici is often commissioned to create magnificent floors and walls by leading luxury designer brands – including Versace, Hermès, Pomelatto, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Miu Miu, among others. Currently, Fantini Mosaici is creating exciting new retail spaces for Dior in China and Cartier in Paris.
