Faye's Parlour Fashion Boutique

Changshu, Suzhou, China

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Faye's Parlour Fashion Boutique

Changshu, Suzhou, China

Firm

Studio Curves

Type

Commercial › Retail Showroom

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2023

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

Synthesizing Fashion and Sculpture

Faye’s Parlour No.2 is a sculptural interior designed for a contemporary fashion boutique in Changshu. Conceived as both a commercial and emotional space, the project explores how form, light, and material can come together to support a slower, more intimate retail experience—an architecture of rhythm, restraint, and reflection.

Creativity & Typological Shift

True to the name “Parlour,” the space was envisioned less as a conventional shop and more as a salon—a place for browsing, pausing, and conversation. The founder, an experienced fashion buyer, imagined a spatial atmosphere more akin to a living room than a showroom. That brief shaped every decision: this is a retail space that speaks softly, invites presence, and treats fashion as dialogue rather than display.

Innovation in Geometry & Construction

The curvature in the space is not drawn but constructed—generated through a ruled system of straight lines that shift and rotate to create visual flow. This technique draws from the “linear constructions” of Naum Gabo, where geometry gives rise to lightness and movement, and from Carlo Scarpa’s precise layering, where transition becomes spatial rhythm. Rather than relying on fluid modeling, the project introduces curvature as a product of construction logic—an approach that merges digital rigor with tectonic restraint.

Material Strategy

The entire interior is wrapped in a seamless skin of microcement, covering walls, ceiling, and integrated casework in a single gesture. This material not only allows for continuity of form, but also reduces reliance on finishing layers and high-maintenance detailing. The muted palette absorbs and reflects light evenly, creating a soft opacity—one that calms, rather than overstimulates. The choice of robust, low-VOC materials and passive lighting strategies reflects an understated but intentional environmental approach.

Functionality & Spatial Flow

Circulation follows a gentle loop: from entry to consultation, display, and checkout—without hard thresholds or partitions. Fixtures are not added, but embedded into the architecture. The cashier counter, benches, and shelving are all designed as spatial extensions—components of the whole rather than inserted objects. The result is a space where movement feels natural and frictionless, designed for both commercial utility and emotional tactility.

The Slow-Down Effect in Fast Paced Retail Environment

In an era of fast retail and overstimulation, Faye’s Parlour No.2 offers a counterpoint: a space that encourages slowness, attention, and care. It reflects a broader shift toward experience-driven commerce, where architecture doesn’t just house product—but curates feeling. The project blends formal innovation, functional clarity, and poetic atmosphere into a retail environment that looks forward—toward a more thoughtful, human-centered future of design.

Design Team: Studio Curves
Jianan John Dai (Project Lead), Yuanyuan Duan, Yinying Chen

Project Team
General Contractor: Suzhou Yujing Construction
Lighting Designer: Ukoo Lighting
Display millwork and Fabrication: STLAIFE