Two giant blue busts face each other across this Hong Kong boutique by Italian designer Fabio Novembre (+ slideshow).
Novembre designed the interior of the HIT Gallery concept store, a branch of Italian retail group Ittiere, as a contemporary interpretation of a piazza. "The HITGallery stores we plan to open around the globe will capture the essence and spirit of Italy in wonderful new ways," he explains.
The busts are shaped from perpendicular planes of wood slotted together to create shelves on which accessories are displayed.
The walls are painted with the same light blue as the figures and a monochrome zig-zag pattern covers the floor.
"The colour defining the walls – a neutral shade bordering between green and sky or cerulean blue – defies classification, so becoming the ideal backdrop for all the brands sold in the store," says Novembre.
The design was inspired by the surrealist paintings of Greek-born Italian artist Giorgio De Chirico, which often feature faceless figures and arched colonnades.
Arched niches line three walls of the store, each containing garments hung from rails or shoes and bags on glass shelves. A curved wall punctured by more arches separates the cash desk from the rest of the shop.
Walls near to the shop window are angled to accommodate a column on one side and distort the perspective created by the entirely symmetrical layout.
The store is located in the Times Square shopping centre on Hong Kong island. Photography is by Dennis Lo.
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