Balenciaga opens flagship boutique in Taipei

Luxury brand Balenciaga has opened a new flagship store in the iconic Taipei 101, recognized as the tallest building in Taiwan.

Spanning 414 square meters, the store offers a curated collection of the latest in Balenciaga men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories, eyewear, and jewelry.

In terms of design, the store adheres to Balenciaga’s experiential Raw Architecture concept that integrates existing structural elements with evocative details such as simulated corrosion and intentionally rough edges.

In contrast to the polished interiors of Taipei 101, the Balenciaga store’s façade boasts deliberate erosion at its edges, serving as a visual ode to the passage of time. Meanwhile, two white-lit Balenciaga signs, positioned above metal-seamed glass panes, signal both the entrance and a display window.

Inside, visitors are greeted by an industrial aesthetic featuring racks suspended from ceilings on metal pipes, brushed concrete floors resembling sidewalk tiles, and walls paneled with stained and aged concrete contributing to the illusion of a liminal indoor/outdoor space.

The deliberate exposure of ceiling grids, lighting systems, and other technical fixtures overhead adds an industrial edge. Aluminum tables and faux leather benches, patinated and worn to simulate warehouse furniture, further enhance the experience. Contrasting the effect are polished, underlit shelving and high-definition digital video screens, infusing warmth and modernity into the space.

This month, Balenciaga equally opened its first ever standalone store in India inside Mumbai’s recently opened Jio World Plaza. Balenciaga is owned by luxury retail giant Kering Group and the brand’s current creative director is designer Demna Gvasalia.