Luxury Retail Outside Spain: 10 Projects by Ujo+Partners

Every luxury retail project is based on a brand identity, but also on a specific context. The existing architecture, the scale of the space, the location, and the way the business interacts with customers mean that each project requires a different approach.

In this article, we review ten projects by Ujo+Partners to show how a single discipline can be approached in very different ways, adapting the design, materials, layout, and execution to the specific needs of each space without losing the essence of the brand.

What changes when designing luxury retail spaces outside of Spain?

When a project is planned outside of Spain, we almost never start with a template. The regulatory framework changes, the type of space available changes (sometimes a building with a commercial history, sometimes a space under construction with no prior reference point), and the way the brand enters that market also changes: whether it’s already well-known or whether the project has to introduce it for the first time. Each of these factors influences the design even before we consider materials or layout.

For more than twenty years, we have worked in markets as diverse as Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Andorra, and Gibraltar, each with its own regulatory framework, architectural heritage, and client expectations.

Our 10 luxury retail projects outside of Spain

Each project on this list addresses a different challenge: adapting an international brand’s identity to a historic building, introducing a brand to a country for the first time, or bringing several brands together under one roof without any of them losing their distinct character.

1. Bulgari Boutique — Tretyakovsky Passage, Moscow (2002)

We organized the space into two levels: a ground floor serving as the main entrance and exhibition area, and an upper floor designed as a more exclusive retail area. Inside, a cylindrical volume clad in light-colored stone serves as the centerpiece of the project. This cylinder houses the vertical core and interacts with a backlit translucent glass wall, which bathes the staircase in soft, continuous light, guiding customers between floors almost imperceptibly.

The display areas combine warm wooden panels with display cases built into light-colored walls, creating a refined and serene atmosphere. The custom-designed curved display counters encourage a fluid flow around the products, while the integrated lighting highlights each piece without causing glare. The result is a balanced interior where precise geometry, the elegance of the materials, and controlled lighting come together to create a setting consistent with the Bulgari universe.

View the full project details for the Bulgari Boutique

2. The Red House — Gibraltar (2022)

The project involved the renovation and expansion of The Red House jewelry store on Main Street in Gibraltar. The design was intended to integrate three distinct spaces—The Red House jewelry store and the exclusive Rolex and Tudor areas—into a unified architectural whole. The challenge was to create a unique identity for the host brand without losing the elegance and distinctive style of the major watchmakers that share the same space.

The proposal organizes the space around a new facade that redefines the relationship between interior and exterior: Travertine marble and anodized aluminum give the façade a timeless presence, balancing the solidity of the stone with the lightness of the metal, and unifying the two original spaces to create a dynamic visual impact from the street. Inside, the layout offers a seamless experience across the three areas, preserving each brand’s identity within a shared atmosphere of elegance and precision. The design of The Red House takes on its own character through warm textures, precise lighting, and custom-made furniture, which reinforce the exclusivity of the jewelry and the overall coherence of the project.

View the full project details for The Red House, Gibraltar

3. Stella McCartney — Moscow (2014)

The challenge was to create Stella McCartney’s first boutique in Moscow while faithfully reflecting the brand’s identity, with a focus on sustainability, the use of ethical materials, and a contemporary aesthetic that would complement the iconic surroundings of the Metropol Hotel and the Bolshoi Theater.

In the heart of Moscow, the boutique at the Metropol Shopping Center is built on the brand’s core values: sustainability, elegance, and responsible design. The space incorporates natural materials and ethically sourced finishes, with a bright and modern atmosphere that reflects the brand’s commitment to the environment. The location, across from the Bolshoi Theater and beneath the historic Metropol Hotel, establishes a dialogue between fashion, culture, and urban heritage; clean lines and a warm treatment of materials create a sophisticated atmosphere in harmony with the surroundings. The selection of furniture, textures, and display elements was carefully considered to offer a seamless shopping experience where sustainable fashion takes center stage.

[SUGGESTED INTERNAL LINK: Stella McCartney Moscow project page on ujoandpartners.com]

4. Suissa Andorra, flagship store (2011)

The project presented the challenge of designing a new Suissa store in the heart of Andorra la Vella, on one of the city’s main shopping streets. The goal was to create a space that would reinforce the brand’s identity while also seamlessly integrating a specialty section located at the back of the store, striking a visual and functional balance between the two areas within a single retail space.

The interior design is structured around a clear spatial organization, where the architecture and furnishings distinguish between different areas without disrupting the flow of movement. The main area reinforces Suissa’s identity through an open and accessible layout, while the rear space blends naturally into the whole. The materials, finishes, and display solutions maintain a consistent and elegant look throughout the store, and the lighting provides visual comfort while highlighting the products in a balanced way. The result is a cohesive and functional boutique, tailored to the commercial character of Meritxell Avenue.

View the full project details for Suissa Andorra, flagship store

5. Valentino Vremena Goda — Moscow (2010)

This was the challenge of creating Valentino’s first boutique in Moscow, located within one of the city’s most exclusive shopping centers. The space had to accurately reflect the brand’s aesthetic, aligning with its international identity and Antonio Citterio’s conceptual guidelines, while combining elegance, restraint, and sophistication in keeping with the high architectural standards of the location.

The design faithfully reflects Valentino’s corporate identity, featuring clean lines, high-quality materials, and a carefully controlled layout. The boutique is structured as a fluid journey organized into distinct zones that present the collections with clarity and visual coherence: marble display cases, red furniture, and lighting that accentuates the textures and highlights the pieces on display. The result is an elegant and contemporary environment, fully aligned with the brand’s global image and seamlessly integrated into the prestigious Vremena Goda.

View the full project details for Valentino Vremena Goda

6. Valentino Kiev (2012)

In Kyiv, we worked with Valentino again, this time under the creative direction of David Chipperfield and with the challenge of creating the brand’s first women’s haute couture boutique in the city, in a prominent urban location. The goal was to bring Valentino’s identity to a new market without straying from the brand’s visual identity guidelines, while adapting its architectural language to the scale of the space and the character of the surroundings.

The design follows these guidelines with a restrained, precise, and timeless aesthetic. The layout prioritizes clear circulation paths and a hierarchical arrangement of the exhibition areas, so that the collection is presented in an orderly manner and takes center stage in the space. Metal-rod curtains, black-and-white checkerboard flooring, and materials selected to reinforce an elegant and understated atmosphere, where the architecture serves as a neutral backdrop for the fashion. Special care was taken with the lighting to highlight textures and volumes, adding depth and warmth to the overall space. We handled the technical development, fabrication, installation, coordination, and final commissioning of the project.

View the full project details for Valentino Kiev

7. Suissa Andorra, boutique (2008)

The project proposes the design of the new Suissa store in downtown Andorra la Vella. The goal is to create a retail space that expresses the store’s unique identity and naturally integrates a specialty section located at the rear of the premises. The project aims to create a cohesive image that allows different commercial styles to coexist without sacrificing architectural coherence or spatial quality.

The design organizes the space through a clear layout that guides customers from the entrance to the specialty area located at the back of the store. The architecture employs understated materials and a balanced composition to ensure visual continuity between the different areas of the store. The design pays special attention to the transition between spaces, avoiding disruptions in the customer’s path and fostering a seamless experience. The furniture, lighting, and finishes are precisely integrated to reinforce the perception of quality and offer an elegant environment capable of adapting to different retail concepts within a single project. The result is a contemporary boutique that combines a distinct identity, flexibility, and a carefully curated shopping experience on one of Andorra’s main shopping streets.

View the full project details for Suissa Andorra Boutique

8. Feru — Almaty, Kazakhstan (2009)

The project proposes the creation of a boutique for the Feru brand in Almaty, one of Kazakhstan’s leading names in luxury men’s fashion. The space must blend into a high-end retail environment, sharing a location with international brands, and convey a conservative, solid, and timeless image. The client is seeking an elegant and understated design in which the nobility of the materials—especially rosewood—takes center stage and reinforces the store’s exclusivity.

The boutique is organized into two clearly distinct areas: a public sales area focused on the customer experience and a rear area dedicated to internal services, a tailoring workshop, and storage. This layout optimizes the use of the space without interfering with the commercial experience. The interior is defined by a sober and refined atmosphere, where rosewood plays a central role, lending depth and character. The spatial composition prioritizes classic lines and balanced proportions, creating an environment that conveys stability, tradition, and exclusivity. The result is a store that reinforces Feru’s position as a leader in high-end men’s fashion, combining functionality, discretion, and a solid architectural presence.

View the complete project profile for Feru Almaty

9. Gold Palace — Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (2015)

The project involved designing a luxury jewelry store in Ashgabat’s main shopping center, in a context where the sale of fine jewelry and watches is still an emerging sector. The goal was to create a distinctive and recognizable space capable of conveying exclusivity through its own cultural identity, reinterpreting traditional elements of Eastern architecture in a contemporary style.

The design revolves around a central element: the oriental latticework reinterpreted in brass, which appears on both the façade and the interior, where it defines and shields the private sales area. Its filtered geometry controls sightlines, creates depth, and fosters an intimate atmosphere without compromising spatial continuity. Brass, chosen for its ability to reflect light and for its chromatic connection to the hues of ancient Central Asia, is combined with built-in display cases and precise lighting that highlights the pieces on display. The result is a sophisticated and timeless jewelry store, where tradition and modernity coexist in a space designed for an exclusive shopping experience.

View the complete project details for Gold Palace Ashgabat

10. Royal Collection — Baku, Azerbaijan (2004)

The project involves the development of Italdizain’s first jewelry store in Azerbaijan, located on one of Baku’s main thoroughfares. The goal is to establish the brand’s identity in an emerging market, consolidating its position as a leader in high-end jewelry. The design must convey elegance, solidity, and exclusivity, adapting the brand’s visual identity to the local context and ensuring a distinctive presence in the city.

The design organizes the retail space in a clear and hierarchical manner, prioritizing product display and the customer experience. The layout balances open sales areas with more personalized service points, fostering a direct and attentive relationship with each visitor. The materials and finishes reinforce the sense of luxury and permanence, creating a refined and sophisticated atmosphere. The project is conceived as the brand’s introduction to the country, setting a standard for architectural and retail quality. The result is a boutique that introduces the brand to the Azerbaijani market with a cohesive, elegant image that is fully aligned with its international positioning.

View the full project details for the Royal Collection

Comparison Chart: The 10 Projects at a Glance

What determines how we design each project outside of Spain?

Before drawing anything, there are three questions that shape the project. What already exists: a space with the brand’s commercial history behind it isn’t approached the same way as a space being built from scratch, as was the case with Gold Palace in Ashgabat. What regulations apply: each country imposes its own criteria for construction, safety, and accessibility, and these factors are incorporated into the design from the very beginning. And how familiar is the local clientele with the brand? In Moscow, Kyiv, or Baku, the project often had to introduce the brand to an audience that was barely familiar with it, whereas in Andorra the challenge was different: reinforcing an already established identity in a highly competitive commercial environment.

The scale also varies depending on the type of space: our projects have ranged from 92 m² to 310 m², depending on whether it was a single-brand boutique or a space that brought together several brands, such as The Red House in Gibraltar. This range of floor areas requires very different layout solutions from one project to the next, although the ultimate goal is always the same: for the space to be recognizable as part of the brand’s universe.

This process is part of our retail architecture and design service, in which every decision regarding materials and layout is tailored to the specific context of the project, rather than following a cookie-cutter approach.

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