The new store strikes a delicate balance between the brand’s cultural heritage and its progressive spirit, immersing customers into the world of art, culture and design. Following this concept, the boutique’s design blends the atmosphere of an intimate salon with the dynamism of a world-class art space, inviting clients to explore a continuously changing gallery of crafted luxury products and fine art.
The Qela experience has its roots in travel and embodies its native country’s aesthetics of quiet, pure and natural landscapes. Undulating forms and flowing curves echo majestic Qatari vistas, punctuated with rich, luxurious materials and a palette of elegant desert tones to highlight the Qela collection.
The unique use of textures and branded design elements conveys an atmosphere of understated elegance and comfort that is iconic to Qela. Bronze, solid walnut, travertine and distinctive nero d’avola stone slabs are softened by bespoke hand-knotted silk rugs and swathes of satin and linen curtains. Both traditional hand-carving and the use of state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques on a vast scale add a subtle level of intricacy to the site’s generous volumes.
Breaking with traditional retail norms, product displays are focused on solid wood and stone plinths to create a more personal customer experience, and to help reserve walls for the hanging or projection of works of art. Throughout the store, cutting-edge low-energy lighting can be remotely positioned and dimmed to bring-out the inherent qualities in works of art and products alike.”
It is in this context that a beautiful Lithos Design feature wall, dressed by the Ottoman texture from the Drappi di Pietra collection, finds its place on the upper floor of the Qela store, merging with the sumptuous draperies and embodying the designers’ intention to create “the 21st century definition of luxury as the ultimate blend of art, savoir-faire and innovation.