House in the city

3 19TH-CENTURY TOWNHOUSES, THANKS TO THE FLAIR OF TOMAS MAIER, HAVE BECOME THE NEW HOME OF BOTTEGA VENETA.

In 1879-80 Madison Avenue was a busy worksite for the construction of residences around what is now Central Park. Three of these townhouses, refurbished a few years later by outstanding architects in French Renaissance or Neo-Georgian style, now contain the third Maison of Bottega Veneta, recently opened with interior design by the creative director Tomas Maier. The 1400 square meters on four floors (the largest in the world for the brand) display all the collections, from apparel to accessories, leather goods, luggage, eyewear, footwear, watches, fragrances, jewelry, as well as furnishings. «Madison Avenue is like coming home», says Tomas Maier. «This was where Bottega Veneta opened its first store outside Italy, in 1972». The colors of the city, its materials and its light all enter the spaces. Abundant natural light is a true luxury in Manhattan, allowing the artificial lighting to be very discreet, enhancing exclusive details and fine craftsmanship. The interior design is in pure Bottega Veneta style, understated but with unexpected features, like the staircase connecting all the levels with its glass balustrade and stone railing. «The items in our Furniture Collection are presences in many spaces, which is unusual for Bottega Veneta», Maier adds. Starting from street level, at the grand two-story entrance, the architectural narrative unfolds in tones of silver, bronze and gray for the ground floor (accessories), pale hues for the second (womenswear) and third (menswear) floors. The Apartment on the fourth floor, in délavé green, offers a true living area, featuring the products of the Furniture Collection and articles for the home.