The Infinite Palace
The Infinite Palace, what a perfect name for this futuristic, labyrinth-like space, home to Prada’s FW Menswear Show 2015 in Milan and designed by AMO, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas’ think tank.
Known for their bold and quite simply stunning designs, the architecture studio – which has worked with Prada a number of times – created not a straight runway for the models to parade but a sequence of chambers. Breaking the show into a series of moments rather than one whole – meaning the audience are pulled into close proximity with the models and given an intimate look at the garments, the set of rooms play with geometry and proportion, patterns and scale, colour theory and perspective. Along with being clad in dreamy faux midnight blue and black marble and joined by aluminum tunnels, they create a particularly mesmerising and disorientating experience – rather kaleidoscopic.
There is also a final group of chambers that joins the two strips of rooms and is equally surreal. Contrasting tones of pinks and greens cover the walls and floor, curves and straight lines mark out the space, and the same reflective silver is applied in patches.
Symmetrical and space-like, pretty and almost unsettling, this is a design we are positively taken by. It brings fashion and architecture together in a new and inspiring way and makes viewing clothing a somewhat more exciting experience. AMO certainly know how to combine two worlds to create a new one.
