The French fashion house Chanel is officially strengthening its presence on the West Coast of the United States. The new Chanel boutique is opening its doors in the prestigious Westfield University Town Center in sunny San Diego. It is a standalone, two-story building with an impressive area of nearly 1,500 square meters. The design thus combines the brand’s Parisian heritage with the unique character of the Southern Californian landscape.
New Chanel boutique and Californian modernism
The architectural design was created by Peter Marino himself, a longtime collaborator of the brand. The main inspiration came from the postwar architectural experiment Case Study Houses and the natural blending of boundaries between the interior and the garden. The central point of the Chanel building is an inner courtyard, around which the entire boutique space is organized. Sliding glass walls let in plenty of natural light and also connect the display areas with the surrounding greenery. Additionally, the façade beams are combined with a palette of beige, black, and sea shades of blue and turquoise.
Paris in the heart of San Diego
The space is also filled with unique works of art referencing Gabrielle Chanel’s Parisian apartment at 31 rue Cambon. That’s why guests are greeted at the entrance by a portrait of the founder painted by Norbert Brunner, while the patio features an antique lion sculpture from the 18th century. The ground floor houses salons for leather goods, footwear, cosmetics, as well as a watch and jewelry area featuring the Coco Crush, Premiere, and J12 lines. Upstairs, a private VIP lounge has been arranged with a terrace overlooking the surroundings. The new Chanel boutique in San Diego is already the brand’s fifth standalone location in California, created with the local, discerning community in mind.