Urban Revivo Sanlitun Flagship Store / MVRDV

The fashion retailer Urban Revivo has opened a new flagship store in the Sanlitun district of Beijing. Designed by the architecture firm MVRDV, the project occupies a prominent location on Sanlitun West Street. This area connects the two major retail hubs of Taikoo-Li Sanlitun. The store is intended to bridge the gap between the accessible fashion found in the South Village and the high-end, bespoke architectural statements common in the North Village.

The exterior of the building features a unique facade made of suspended aluminum tiles and tubes. These elements are finished in the brand signature blue with a dichroic coating. This coating causes the building to shift in color from purple to blue depending on the viewing angle of the pedestrian. The facade also bulges in specific areas, creating a three-dimensional wave pattern that contrasts with the surrounding architecture.

Inside, the store design incorporates references to traditional Beijing hutongs. The ground floor features circular portals modeled after traditional moon gates. These portals serve as window displays and provide a transition into the main retail space. The interior walls use grey brick to create a neutral backdrop for the merchandise. As shoppers move to the upper floors, the architectural motifs shift from traditional circular gates to modern arched openings, rounded rectangles, and inverted curves.

The store layout includes six distinct areas known as Bold Rooms. Each of these zones features a specific theme, such as a space lined with fabric curtains or a room containing recycled textile blocks. These areas house special collections and provide an varied experience for the customer. The project was intended to ground the brand in local history while maintaining a modern, global aesthetic. MVRDV oversaw the design of all interior elements, including custom fixtures and furniture.