‘My Favorite Room’ takes a look at our favorite peoples’ most cherished places and spaces. Featuring a mixture of hotspots and hidden gems, we hope to remind just how special one room can really be.
As an architect for some of the fashion industry’s leading designer flagship shops, Marco Marcellini has created a multitude of visually and emotionally compelling spaces. Constantly seeking to create an exceptional experience in each new space, it comes as no surprise that his favorite room evokes that sentiment.
What is your favorite room? It’s not exactly a room — it’s a space — the Fendi flagship at 57th and Madison that I designed under the aegis of Peter Marino.
Why is it your favorite room? As an architect I seek to foster emotional connection to the spaces I design. This is especially crucial in luxury retail. Fendi is my favorite space because it is a sophisticated and poetic expression of the brand, a journey through Fendi’s cultural heritage and aspirations.
What do you like to do most in this room? Shop! The best retail spaces are those in which you don’t need a sign to understand what store you are in — because your experience is so specific it could only be linked to that brand. Though each display area in the store is different, it’s all unmistakably Fendi — starting with the facade and through the interior. The spaces are strongly connected to a product, and at the same time to Rome, the baroque, brand creativity and finest craftsmanship.
What is one unique or distinctive feature from this room? Each wall finish is exclusive — all hand-crafted. They were each the result of close collaboration between our art direction and highly skilled European and American artisans. The floors are 25 million-year-old petrified wood.
In one word, how would you describe this room? Art.