OMA has completed the renovation of the Tiffany & Co flagship store in Manhattan, the historic ten-storey limestone building at 727 Fifth Avenue, New York, used by Tiffany & Co since 1940 as a department store.
OMA has expanded it by adding on the roof a glass structure of three floors – consisting of two overlapping volumes – to accommodate a gallery and spaces for events. The lower volume is divided into two levels and is slightly retrocessed to create a small terrace; the upper volume, instead, the “jewelry box”, protrudes on three sides with a cantilever on the lower volume and is cladded in panes of undulating glass.
According to Shohei Shigematsu, OMA partner, the addition aim to respect the legacy of Tiffany & Co’s legacy while softening the effect of the surrounding skyscrapers. “The result is a translucent vitrine to signal new flagship activities – a contemporary bookend to the historic building and symbolic launch of a renewed brand”.
The pre-existing interiors have been restored by the American architect Peter Marino and the elevator cores have been moved on the external walls in order to create a freer plan, then enriched with metal details, carpets and particular wall treatments. An elevator lobby was also added to facilitate access for visitors to the upper levels.
A prize for architecture between lights and volumes: LFA Award
An international photography competition that invites photographers worldwide to capture the essence of contemporary architecture. Inspired by the work of the famous Portuguese photographer Luis Ferreira Alves, the award seeks images that explore the dialogue between man and space.