The Jil Sander Berlin Boutique is located on the ground floor of a heavily articulated 20th century masonry building on the corner of Kurfurstendam and Wielandstrasse in the downtown of former West Berlin. The ground floor facade is characterized by large window openings bracketed with stainless steel soffits and jet mist Granite plinths.  These apertures are partially screened by beveled fin walls serving as two-sided backdrops, both for the window displays and for merchandising on the interior.  The boutique entrance door is located in a corner position beneath a round masonry canopy serving as a balcony for the floor above.

The orthogonal geometry exhibited by four structural columns and five storefront openings onto Wielandstrasse is interrupted by the irregular demising wall contour on the Kurfurstendam side. Gabellini Sheppard Associates’ approach transformed these non-orthogonal massive back walls into rear-illuminated fin walls that give the environment theatrical drama and suspension, further enhanced by the generous ceiling height. A series of free-standing fin walls, credenzas and merchandising fixtures playfully relate to the rigorous column arrangement.

Photography by Paul Warchol.

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