9 sleek and chic boutiques at The Exchange TRX in Kuala Lumpur

These strips are hung vertically, mimicking the “tarik” process of tea being poured into cups from on high, and creates a monochromatic play of translucency, warmth and softness in the lofty space.

A quartet of basins embraces the tall structural column, while lacquered sliding timber doors open to reveal a hidden Fragrance Armoire with the brand’s unorthodox Eaux de Parfum.

Located at G.24.0, Ground Floor

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Responsible for many of the Apple stores around the world in the last ten years, British international architecture firm Foster + Partners’ latest design for the first Apple store in Malaysia features a 26.5 sqm structure that transitions to a rounded dome at its peak. 

The stacked solar shading louvres that make up the “floating roof” are carefully angled to reduce the country’s tropical sun, as the central glazed oculus brings daylight into the interior with a dynamic artificial lighting feature.

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Beneath the impressive canopy lies a subterranean retail space, organised around a viewing gallery in the open, central atrium that houses product displays and demonstration zones. 

Through a quartz and glass staircase, patrons have access to the additional display areas on the lower level, while the lowest level links to the adjacent The Exchange TRX mall.

Located at L1.40, First Floor

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With a design concept by creative director Matthieu Blazy, the motifs of the Italian luxury fashion house are integrated throughout the space. 

Previously prominent on signature bags and ready-to-wear items, the subtle details of the Sardine bag handle are now evident in the door handles, while leather furniture echoes the iconic Intrecciato weaving.

The typical industrial material of concrete is reimagined within the store, ingeniously fashioned into surfaces and plinths that emerge from the floor. These elements serve dual purposes, functioning as planters and jewellery displays, adding both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality to the space.

Located at G.02.0, Ground Floor

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Fans of the luxury fashion house will recognise the graphic lines outlining the façade, as well as the wooden flooring that decks the minimalist-designed store. 

The cannage pattern sublimating the exterior traces its origins to the rattan weaving on the Napoleon III-style chairs at founder Christian Dior’s Avenue Montaigne salon, while the Versailles parquet floors evoke the emblematic motifs on the 30 Montaigne handbag.

Bathed in delicate shades of white, cream, blue and grey, the interiors are delineated based on the House’s universes that include ready-to-wear and accessories by creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Kim Jones.

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From the beige-toned women’s section to the men’s with wood-panelled walls, to the blue-hued zone for accessories, each area features its own interplay of patterns on walls and backdrops for shelves. 

These patterns are punctuated by tasteful furnishings such as marble display tables and patterned rugs, creating a luminous atmosphere that fuses audacity and sophistication.

Located at G.99.0, Ground Floor

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Gentle Monster not only possesses a delicate eye for audacious and innovative storytelling in fashionable eyewear but also for creating an extraordinary spatial experience, as seen in its flagship store at The Exchange TRX.

The 3,522 sq ft store embraces the bizarre. Its façade artwork and eccentric metal objects welcome guests into an unfamiliar space with various flowing paths, showcasing a centrepiece installation characterised by undulated forms. 

Among these are the fluid movements of hyper-real bisons, standing watch amidst a dynamic and colourful experience.

Located at G.12A.0 and GS.09.0, Ground Floor

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Drawing inspiration from creative director Jonathan Anderson’s Casa Loewe concept, where art, craft and fashion converge intelligently, the 2,470 sq ft store is enveloped in a façade of blue ceramic tiles handmade and enamelled in Spain. 

Reflecting the country’s artisanal irregularities, these tiles exemplify the brand’s blend of heritage craft and contemporary design, as the cool blues complement earthier shades of brown and light green inside.

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A sumptuous collection of curated furnishings adds character to the rich, tactile iron racks and brass detailing. Atop handwoven wool carpets featuring designs by British textile artist John Allen, one finds the angularity of Thomas Gerrit Rietveld’s Steltman and Utrecht armchairs alongside the organic lines of Axel Vervoordt’s coffee table.

Hand-picked pieces from Loewe’s expanding global anthology of art, craft, and sculpture adorn the space, including works by British artist Eliot Hodgkin, ceramicist Ewan Henderson, and Welsh artist Merlin James. The culmination is Pablo Picasso’s Visage Noir AR 39 (1948), a playful piece with its crooked, grinning face on the ceramic surface.

Located at G.05, Ground Floor

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The iconic Louis Vuitton Monogram undergoes a reimagining upon the white 3D flower mesh façade, while a decorative carpet crafted from Travertine paves the way into the store, featuring a modern, sophisticated interior design reminiscent of Paris Saint-Germain.

In the entrance area, the wall plaster, realised by the French atelier De La Torre, sets the tone. Meanwhile, Marcel Wanders, a longstanding collaborator on the Maison’s Objets Nomades collection, brings his touch with an immersive diamond screen in the women’s accessories section. Both areas are united under a ceiling installation that mirrors the petals of the monogram.

Artwork by contemporary artists such as Lautaro Cuttica and Florence Pirlot is thoughtfully curated to complement the furniture selection, which includes designs from Etienne de Souza and India Mahdavi. 

Located at G.58 and G.59, Ground Floor

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Designed by architect Peter Marino, the façade of hammered panels blends artistry and craftsmanship, marrying the high jewellery brand’s rich heritage and modern design to the store.

Complementing the silver hammered façade are luxurious gold stripes adorning the paravents at the store windows, inspired by the iconic New York City skyline while paying homage to Tiffany’s Art Deco legacy.

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Inside, hand-cut sapphire blue crystal chandeliers illuminate the space, casting light upon CGI recreations of vintage Tiffany advertisements set against Marino-designed and Rubelli-made jacquard fabric backdrops.

The first of three Tiffany & Co stores within the Asia region to feature designs by Marino, it includes two private salons that fuse art and luxury seamlessly: one showcasing an artwork by German artist Caspar Jansen, while the other features a soft orchid mural by acclaimed photographer Jason Schmidt.

Located at G.94-96, Ground Floor

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Nicknamed “The Lost Cove,” Spacemen Studio crafted a luminous sanctuary reminiscent of an abstract cove for the niche multi-brand retail boutique that spans 1,800 sq ft.

Revolving around the interplay of light and shadow, floor-to-ceiling linear shelves and curved walls mirror the undulating curves of a cave’s interior. They serve not only as functional display nooks showcasing Trove’s curated collection, but also evoking the sense of hidden alcoves within a natural formation waiting to be explored.

Towards the back of the store, a secluded enclave takes a nuanced turn, as the abstract silhouette of a sunrise subtly integrated into the horizontal nooks.

Located at L1.10, First Floor

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