Translating Fashion
Into Architecture

Fashion designers and architects take inspiration from everything around them – sometimes even each other. The undeniable synergy between the two can be seen in the works of fashion houses like Balenciaga, Marchesa, and Chloé, and in the architectural works of the late Zaha Hadid, and Frank Gehry. Locally, the two worlds have come together at the Dior Café in the Design District.

Designed by Miami- and Barcelona-based architecture firm, Doo Architecture, Dior Café continues a longstanding tradition first established by Monsieur Christian Dior and the desire to spread his love for the art of entertaining and his taste in art de vivre. Unlike the café’s additional locations in Seoul and St. Tropez, Miami’s Dior Café is the first to introduce the fashion brand’s latest collection, Cruise 2019.

“Miami’s Dior Café started as a five-month pop-up store that is now evolving into a permanent fixture,” said Doo Architecture Founder & Principal in Charge, Alexis Cogul Lleonart. “The café will serve as a unique amenity for the store and a marketing outlet for the brand, with the design being updated every six months to promote Dior’s latest collection.”

Staying true to the luxury brand’s aesthetic, Doo dressed the café in the brand’s emblematic Toile de Jouy print, Dior’s iconic 18^th century French print, which decorated the walls of Monsieur Dior’s first boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris in 1947. The collection’s signature animals including tigers, giraffes and monkeys also roam and hang around the terrace and are painted in the Toile de Jouy print. Delicate accent colors of blush pink and navy blue complement the café.

Located on the boutique’s third-floor outdoor terrace, Doo created a secret garden within the store. The minimal Dior interiors are heightened by lush greenery throughout the space, enhancing the firm’s idea to relate landscape and hardscape as an organic experience. White seating and large white umbrellas were tastefully selected to fit in with the café’s delicate color scheme and quietly enhance the design. As a design-build firm, Doo Architecture fabricated all of the café’s materials, including a 60-foot, custom wrap-around bench that was created as 14-piece puzzle and assembled onsite.

Doo’s design of the café makes it an ideal location to capture that picture-perfect Instagram moment. The pinnacle point of the space features a bronze Dior logo set against the terrace’s greenery. The logo is enhanced by delicately draped lighting in the background, creating an ideal backdrop for any photo. To add to the photo-readiness of the space, guests are greeted by the café’s Instagram wall – a white wall decorated with Dior’s navy-blue Toile de Jouy print.

The café has a tridimensional aspect, where the action of wrapping and geometry diversions, pretend to enhance this cocoon experience for the guest. The new re-designed layout and outdoor space creates a new client experience with the café’s menu of coffee, teas, juices and assorted fruits and pastries.

“Bringing the Dior name to life at this café meant fully understanding this more than 70-year-old brand and the special details that have made it a recognizable and fashion staple worldwide,” added Cogul. “We look forward to updating the design for the next collection launch and continuing to emerge guests in the Dior experience.”