Hermès is finally opening its much-anticipated new Doha store, located in the Qatari capital’s new shopping destination, Place Vendôme.
The spacious new store of over 600 square metres was designed to draw from the region’s unique topography and historical landmarks, offering a exploration of materials and craftsmanship in a contemporary expression of the Hermès architectural vocabulary, according to the brand.
The store was designed by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, features an abundance of natural light flowing through double-height windows lining the exterior walls.
“Unique textured details reveal the gesture of the artisan’s hand and further highlight the singularity of this new address. Sculptural undulating lines on the ceiling evoke the sand dunes in the nearby inland sea of Khor Al Udaid. Each space is delineated by unique hand-laid inserts in the terrazzo – inspired by the rock carvings of Al Jassasiya – either marble, mother of pearl, or pearlescent seashells of various scales,” says a statement from the brand.
Located on the ground floor of the mall’s south side, the store façade, distinct for its hand-hewn travertine walls, is designed to recal the wind-carved limestone rock formations at Ras Abrouq in the Northwest of the country. The graphic surface stretches between the glass windows that display the latest Hermès collections.
Steps in the store lead down to a private garden, an oasis in the city populated by flora, with aa life-size sculpture of a blue horse by French artist Assan Smati. Also included are earthenware vases by artist Julian Stair, a winged horse by sculptor Christian Renonciat, and emblematic, repurposed works created by the late Tunisian designer Leïla Menchari for the windows of the 24 Faubourg Saint Honoré store in Paris.
To celebrate the store’s opening, the windows feature a commissioned work by American artist duo, CHIAOZZA, Adam Frezza and Terri Chiao, who have imagined ‘In the Tall Grass’, a painted sculptural surrealistic jungle. The store also offers a selection of exclusive objects, such as a made-to-measure foosball table and a unique soccer ball, cast in Rouge H and Craie Swift leathers.