Alaïa makes its debut in China with the opening of its first flagship boutique in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun. Spanning two levels, the space emerges from an intimate collaboration between Creative Director Pieter Mulier and design studio Halleroed, who have translated the brand’s sensuality, radical purity, and sculptural spirit into a striking architectural language.
The façade, a continuous surface of Carrara marble, presents a serene, monolithic presence to the street. Circular and softly contoured openings—echoing Alaïa’s iconic perforated motifs—interrupt the stone plane, creating a rhythmic interplay of lightness and weight. The result is both monumental and understated, introducing a new architectural vocabulary for the Maison, where couture craftsmanship meets contemporary urban form.
Soft, fluid contours unfold alongside crisp geometric silhouettes, embodying the contrasts at the heart of the Parisian Maison’s design philosophy. On the ground floor, a sweeping marble shelf becomes the space’s anchor point, while sculptural plinths emerge from the floor as though carved directly from the architecture itself. Here, display elements are not additions—they are integral to the spatial choreography.
Two monumental cubic chairs by French couturier Paul Poiret punctuate the room, their assertive geometry heightening the dialogue between softness and architectural precision. Ascending to the upper level, the atmosphere shifts to a quieter, more intimate mood, presenting the full Alaïa universe—from ready-to-wear to accessories and foundational pieces. Seating by Philippe Malouin draws the eye toward the rounded façade openings conceived by Swedish studio Halleroed, allowing the curvature of the windows to set the visual tempo of the room.
Across the boutique, craftsmanship remains the guiding thread—expressed through stone, furniture, and the meticulous interplay of curving forms and linear planes that define the experience.
Photos Jonathan Leijonhufvud
