MAKATI, Philippines—Famed Italian jewelry house, Bulgari just unveiled its 198-square meter Manila boutique store at Greenbelt 3, in Makati City. Strategically nestled in the country’s financial district and in one of the city’s high-end retail centers, the jewelry and watchmaker brand’s boutique brings la dolce vita to life. The redesigned Bulgari store is a space designed to be an escape to indulge in all things luxurious.
The entrance is flanked by white Travertino Navona round columns that speak of the brand’s affinity to its Roman and Grecian roots. Upon stepping inside, clients are embraced by luscious, earth tones that bring to mind the Eternal City’s ambience.
Bois Jourdan marble at the entrance threshold, sweeping views of apricot-colored furnishings and upholstery, as well as illuminating crystal chandeliers made and flown in from Italy welcome visitors to a contemporary experience of both Bulgari and Italian heritage.
Images courtesy of Bulgari
Linking the Greenbelt store to all the other Bulgari boutiques around the globe is the historic Via Condotti eight-pointed star, which symbolizes the saying “all roads lead to Rome”. Rendered in red porphyry, the star serves as a focal point from which patrons can see all the major sections within the area. These sections include galleries for ladies’ jewelry, ladies and men’s watches and jewelry, accessories, along with a dedicated area for bridal jewelry.
The store follows the concept and artistic direction of the celebrated American architect Peter Marino, who has partnered with Bulgari, among many other luxury brands, in reinterpreting the architectural and aesthetic heritage of ancient Rome into cutting-edge, contemporary design, one with the brand’s ethos of indulging in life’s luxuries.
In fact, Marino is widely credited for reshaping and redefining modern luxury retail by bringing the legacy of designers or brands to the fore through architecture, thus allowing clients to deepen their appreciation and relationship with their preferred labels.
Images courtesy of Bulgari
Marino’s touch can be seen too with the choices of furniture that pay tribute to the tradition of Italian design. Different pieces such as the Mangiarotti table, Oswaldo Borsani sofas, chairs or clubchairs complete the store’s seamless blending of classic and contemporary.
An oval-shaped counter with light galvanized iron inspired by the Italian architect Carlo Scarpa is an enticing invitation to saunter around the boutique to explore, discover and shop. Adorning the very center of the store is a crystal chandelier that adds a gleam of decadence to the jewelry on display but at the same time, highlights the warm, rich palette of the store.
Images courtesy of Bulgari
At the rear end of the shop, VIPs are entertained at an oval, private sales room inspired by the days when Italy was at the pinnacle of the film era. In the 1950s and 1960s, many Hollywood stars came to Rome to make movies, one of which is the ever-iconic Elizabeth Taylor.
It was during the epic, golden years of the Dolce Vita when she visited Via dei Condotti while filming in Rome. She, among many other film goddesses, were Bulgari’s great inspirations for the VIP room concept, the jewelry and Marino’s design.
Images courtesy of Bulgari
Enjoy a 360° virtual tour of the newly opened Bulgari Greenbelt store.