El Departamento designs Lady Pipa flagship store in Madrid as a cinematic retail interior
El Departamento designs the Lady Pipa flagship store Madrid as a retail interior project at Calle Lagasca 33, introducing a spatial narrative that transforms shopping into an immersive evening experience in the Salamanca district. Developed for the Spanish fashion brand, the 106-square-meter store reframes the act of purchasing occasionwear through “Soirée Dreams,” a concept that positions the boutique as the beginning of the celebration itself. The project aligns architecture, scenography, and brand identity into a cohesive retail environment where perception shifts from transactional to experiential.
El Departamento founders Alberto Eltini and Marina Martín structure the Lady Pipa flagship store Madrid around cinematic references, drawing from the atmosphere of Mulholland Drive to construct a sequence of spatial episodes. The entrance establishes this direction through a retro metallic wall phone and a neon manifesto reading “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go to Lady Pipa,” introducing a narrative layer that extends beyond conventional retail. The design relies on chiaroscuro contrasts, calibrated lighting, and controlled reflections to guide visitors through an environment that operates as both boutique and staged interior.
A blue water-effect resin floor extends across the space, paired with limewash-coated walls in a matching tone to create a continuous envelope. The checkout counter is reinterpreted as a DJ booth, constructed in backlit corrugated glass blocks and anchored by a suspended brushed aluminum luminaire. This configuration shifts the functional core of the store into a performative element, reinforcing the project’s alignment with temporary architecture and installation design strategies.
The display areas intensify the spatial rhythm through mirrored arches that replicate garments and movement, expanding the perceived depth of the interior. Behind the clothing rails, silver faux fur panels introduce a tactile contrast, while footwear is positioned in velvet-lined niches with dual color treatments. These interventions operate as micro-environments within the broader retail installation, allowing each product category to occupy a distinct visual register while remaining integrated into the overall narrative.
The fitting room area marks the central spatial moment of the Lady Pipa flagship store Madrid, conceived as a dance floor framed by gradient silk curtains. Custom mirrors with integrated frontal lighting reference backstage dressing rooms, while an antique Murano glass chandelier defines the vertical axis of the space. Chrome stools and velvet seating complete the composition, balancing contemporary materials with curated historical elements. This area shifts the act of trying garments into a performative ritual, reinforcing the store’s identity as an experiential interior.
Below, the lower level introduces “L’Atelier,” an event space that extends the retail concept into a more intimate setting. A dense green carpet and Cathedral Sapelli wood veneer panels redefine the atmosphere, creating a contrast with the upper level’s reflective surfaces. Designed for private events and brand activations, this zone expands the functional scope of the Lady Pipa flagship store Madrid, positioning it within a broader framework of public art, interior installation, and hybrid retail environments.
Photography by Sergio Pradana with courtesy of El Departamento
https://www.eldepartamento.net
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