Domesticated Earth – Camilla and Marc Armadale by Akin Atelier

Akin Atelier’s latest retail store for Camilla and Marc takes form as a series of soft, earth-tone spaces – evoking both cavern and haven.

In what once was a terrace house on the main street in Armadale, in Melbourne’s inner south-east, now resides a journey of considered spaces. Rough and raw materials are given a new sense of place, becoming polished emblems of effortless natural beauty.Entering the store, customers are immersed in a roomcrafted from striking elemental materials of peach and blush hues. The space beckons one in, as the eye is drawn through the three successive rooms,a canyon of two-tone travertine floors and marmorino render walls in custom colours. These four sequential ‘living spaces’ are separated geometrically with singular steps that create a physical sense of transition.

The space beckons one in, as the eye is drawn through the three successive rooms, a canyon of two-tone travertine floors and marmorino render walls in custom colours.

Contrasting industrial steel hanging rails create narrative lines along the walls. A rear skylight and large rectangular windows expand the aperture of the store with waves of daylight – in keeping with Camilla and Marc’s long-held value that their garments be viewed in natural light. A one-off Pearl Wave Onyx-clad counter stands as sentinel, leading to the nextroom.

The second and third rooms are laid with custom grey oiled European oak floorboards in a herringbone pattern that imbue the spaces with a romantic classicism. The second contains the fitting rooms, cordoned off with Kvdarat Raf Simons Helia Boucle curtains in a pumpkin shade. Smooth pastel walls wrap in soft curves, with sparing light fixtures and mirrors which nod to practicality. A travertine plinth stands in the midst of the rooms, serving as an accessories display.

The elegance of the store comes to its conclusion in a domesticated breath of natural space, as if once again becoming the terrace it was, a sophisticated canyon of retail fashion remembering its roots.

The store finally weaves to the rear courtyard – designed by Myles Baldwin – which hems it in with a natural moment of repose. The elegance of the store comes to its conclusion in a domesticated breath of natural space, as if once again becoming the terrace it was, a sophisticated canyon of retail fashion remembering its roots.

The angular prisms of polished stone are harmonised with calm interior curves, and each element is tied together with a palette reminiscent of Australia’s distinct and rural red earth. This is the tenth Camilla & Marc store, and the eighth designed by long-time collaborator Kelvin Ho of Akin Atelier, who have once more created not just a space for retail, but a home address for Camilla and Marc.