Local Artisans Provide Country Aesthetic for Cartier Store

When designing its international boutiques, French luxury brand Cartier looks to local artisans to provide a country aesthetic. The Oceania flagship store at 388 George St Sydney has a façade etched with wave motifs, bespoke rugs inspired by our unique Australian geography, a magnificent pandanus weaving from the Yolgnu people of East Arnhem Land, plus many more details referencing the local landscape, flora and fauna.

Luxurious applied finishes infuse Cartier store with Australian light and texture

Cartier boutiques may be tailored to the location, but they also have a defined level of quality that forms a backdrop to the luxury shopping experience. For the Sydney store, Cartier approached Di Emme to produce luxurious applied finishes suggestive of the light and textures found in Australia. Cartier provided some inspiration and guidance from Paris then gave Di Emme artists licence to create within the brief.

Unique finishes add opulence and intrigue

Di Emme produced a range of unique finishes. There is the opulent gilded finish on the bar where guests linger over cocktails infused with native flavours as they select the gem and setting for an engagement ring. For the recessed ceiling above the bar, Di Emme manipulated wet impasto plaster to create a scalloped pattern before adding a metallic finish. There are other metallic finishes on the walls and behind the showcases, and an opulent gold leaf in the handrail niche guiding guests on their ascent up the grand staircase.

Fabrics and finishes from around the world

The Cartier Panther features subtly in the store design in an abstract wall panel constructed in Singapore from fabrics and finishes from around the world. Di Emme created two custom finishes for the panel, prototyping and finessing the finishes to fit the designer’s vision. Di Emme applied the approved finishes on canvas, shipped them to Singapore for mounting, then the panels were returned to Sydney for the shopfitters to install.

Hand painted eucalypt and acacia leaves

The focus walls in the private viewing rooms were completed by Di Emme artists. Artwork and graphics were created for the hand painted eucalypt and acacia leaves. Textures and colours combine to make unique artworks for these special rooms.

Distinctive column cladding a design highlight

The column claddings are a highlight of the store design. Cartier commissioned Di Emme to create the textured pattern for the building’s structural columns. Located on the ground and first floors they are clearly visible from the exterior of the building. The pattern was produced by machine routing a gypsum-based material which was then curved and fixed to structural frames. The process involved computer drafting, prototyping, sampling the finishes, and precision production. To complete the work, a final finish was applied on site.