Grand Reopening Of Bulgari's Store In Zurich, Switzerland

Bulgari, the magnificent and contemporary Italian jeweler, master of colored gemstones, announced the grand reopening of the store in Zurich’s most exclusive street on Bahnhofstrasse.

Naturally the historic façade has been preserved in keeping with the architecture of the magnificent Bahnhofstrasse, but the shop front design does feature elegant curved arch pelmets in sleek black Grand Antique marble, a characteristic material used on Bulgari facades around the world. The main façade features 5 giant showcases which will have a different creative theme according to the season, while the secondary façade will also have two maxi LED screens to portray images from the brand campaign.

Upon entering the store one is transported momentarily to Rome. BVLGARI is Rome: sunlight, marbles and ancient buildings. A timeless city that will never be out-of-fashion and the BVLGARI store design is a wonderful architectural concept developed for BVLGARI by the internationally acclaimed architect Peter Marino that embodies pure Roman style.  A timeless yet contemporary vision of Rome, with the warm and relaxed soul of the Eternal City.

Italian design is renowned worldwide for its beauty in its form, the audacity with which precious materials, colors and sublime craftsmanship are combined, the relationship between ancient and modern, tradition and innovation, qualities that characterize the work of Peter Marino for Bulgari.

The entrance threshold features a Condotti eight pointed star, in red porphyry, in contrast to the is a universal symbol of balance, harmony and cosmic order, the eight lines are symbolic of the four cardinal points (North, South, East, West) and time (two solstices and two equinoxes). According to the famous legend, the star means “Roma Caput Mundi", meaning that all the routes lead to Rome, and is a unifying symbol found in all Bulgari boutiques around the world.

The main two adjoining showrooms have two large oval shaped counters, inspired by the renowned Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, which entices clients to browse the shop and to explore Bulgari’s most iconic collections. Each oval counter in marble and light brass is crowned by spectacular chandelier hand crafted in Murano glass.  The store also features counters in Pavonazzetto marble, which are conceived as sculptures thanks to the skills of Italian craftsmanship traditions. Adorned with Imperial Saffron–colored shantung silk, the iconic Condotti windows on the walls also recall the Roman warm atmosphere and are a reproduction of the original windows still present in Bulgari’s historic flagship on Via Condotti in Rome. Colourful artwork from Andy Warhol bring a more contemporary touch.

In contrast to the first room which has a marble floor, the second room is a precious walnut parquet with a star pattern with a “degrade” effect giving the impression of the magical light of the Italian sun entering in the store, creating a warm and welcoming ambience.

Particularly given we are in Switzerland, the masters of watch making, the store would not be complete without a dedicated area to watches, which is the third show room, and the ideal setting to enjoy an emersion in the Swiss watch making craftmanship, and view all the time pieces of the Bulgari collection. At the rear of the store there is also an exclusive sales rooms which has the same charm of the Elizabeth Taylor lounge from Via dei Condotti, from the golden years of the Dolce Vita, furnished with seating inspired by Italian designer Osvaldo Borsani, coffee tables in onyx and a rich hand crafted carpet.

The creative vision of the Peter Marino concept mixing with eclecticism and genius precious materials, textures and light, together with Bulgari's obsession with magnificence and skilful craftsmanship, distinguish the design. An evocative journey from Rome experienced through the language of architecture, interior design and the poetry of traditional artisan techniques. The beauty of shapes, the audacious combinations of materials and colors together with the excellence of Italian craftsmanship create a coherent link between the concept of the store and the trademarks of the brand, shaping the house of the brand just like Bulgari creates its jewels.