Gold and its glistening allure are timeless. The Parisian haute couture label Dior unveiled a pop-up concept store, dubbed the ‘Gold House’ in Bangkok on the 8th of December. Nestled across from Bangkok’s busy Central Embassy Mall and the Park Hyatt property, this gilded assembly mirrors the label’s historic Avenue Montaigne flagship in Paris. Featuring a medley of magnum opuses, by nine eminent Thai artists and ‘Café Dior’ with desserts from three Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, this concept store is the shiny new object in town.

A Glimmering Dreamscape

Posing as a carpark just a few months ago, the Dior Gold House, spanning 10,763.9 sq. ft. is now corralled with paradisical gardens and sultry landscaping, paired with water gardens that transform the space into an oasis. With its gold façade glistening in Bangkok’s unforgiving sunlight, and a mansard roof shielding the entire arbour, Dior’s Gold House is art and couture with a dash of local flair under one roof. A homage to the Maison’s timeless codes, the store’s surreal façade is clad in millions of gold mosaics, crafted by masterful Thai artisans. Punctuated with 300 faux arched windows and intricate details, it mirrors the Paris headquarters’ neo-classical façade—with wainscoting, wrought iron railings, and petite arches, all embossed with gold mosaics while the lucky star parlays as the crowning jewel.

Also Read: Brutalist Architecture, Mythological Aura, And New-Age Ideas Take Over This New Delhi Store

A Passage Between Cultures

Traipsing through the 6,700 sq. ft. of lush tropical gardens, one steps into an enchanting 860 sq. ft. opulent haven but not before encountering a reimagined version of the tuk-tuk—an essential form of Asian public transport. This rustic wicker tuk-tuk, by artist Saran Yen Panya, Creative Director of the 56th Studio agency, infuses elements of the city’s essence. Dior’s designers take the spotlight, from Maria Grazia Chiuri’s prêt-à-porter collections to Kim Jones’ menswear. Every nook is brimming with the label’s iconic motifs, reimagined with natural materials like bamboo, raffia, and wood.

The apparel section pairs seamlessly with ‘Café Dior,’ helmed by three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. The café’s menu balances nature’s bounty while reflecting Dior’s couture legacy, set against artist Korakot Aromdee’s bamboo installation aptly called the ‘Garden of Happiness.’ This enchanting tableau of intricately carved, three-dimensional flora and fauna complements a menu of decadent treats, including ‘Pandan’ with Combava and lime, rose milk with lychee and raspberry, pistachio, vanilla, and passion fruit pastries, as well as cocktails infused with neroli, jasmine, and lavender. “I’m delighted to have contributed to the birth of Café Dior in Bangkok within the Dior Gold concept store, and to have been able to build plural dialogues between the worlds of haute couture and haute gastronomy,” shares Colagreco.

Also Read: A New Narrative On Indian Craftsmanship And Design At Ensemble’s New Store In Ahmedabad

Carnival For The Artists

Art, ever a muse for Christian Dior, permeates through every corner of this transient concept store, brought to life by nine Thai artists’. A crew of striking oeuvre reflects the multifaceted ties between nature, culture, politics, and society. Highlights include artist-architect Boonserm Premthada’s ‘Elephant Jardin,’ featuring elephants’ footprints with bio-sourced materials, and artist-environmentalist Wishulada Panthanuvong’s ‘Unleashed Nature’ a poignant depiction of nature’s vulnerability through bound lions and unicorns fashioned from industrial waste, melding artistry with sustainability.

The ‘lucky star’ recurs as a skylight, casting a spotlight at the store’s heart—an open book perched with mannequins—while creating an airy and light ambience. Wooden accents, with intricately carved wicker and pallid walls, define the store’s interiors, illuminated by the colossal French windows. Among the captivating exhibit of ‘Lady Dior’ bags, hiding in plain sight is ‘Mala,’ a gamut of woven bamboo ‘Lady Dior’ bags crafted by Savin Saima of Vassana—a local weaving brand. Adding to the artistic allure is ‘Nirvana D’Oro’ chair by artist Eggarat Wongcharit, which reinterprets Thailand’s traditional mirror mosaic techniques, paired with the dainty table titled ‘Panajon: Wandering in the Forest’ by Sumphat Gallery, seamlessly blending Thai and French artistry.

Also Read: New In Delhi: AMPM, Ensemble, And KoAi Mark The City’s Latest Retail Openings

Amidst Dior’s ‘Gold House,’ the gilded walls and verdant gardens conspire with the local artist to blur the boundaries between the ephemeral and the eternal. Every concocted detail—from the reflective shimmer of the façade to the whispers of wicker—transforms this golden sanctuary into an invitation to pause, reflect and toast to the timeless allure of artistry, culture, and couture.