MVRDV has completed the new flagship store for Chinese fashion retailer Urban Revivo in Beijing’s Sanlitun district, introducing a landmark retail destination distinguished by a sculptural aluminium façade that reinterprets traditional Chinese architectural elements through contemporary materials and digital design. Covering 4,120 m², the flagship occupies a prominent site on Sanlitun West Street, the main pedestrian corridor linking the South and North Villages of Taikoo Li Sanlitun, one of Beijing’s busiest luxury shopping destinations.
The project represents another high-profile retail commission for MVRDV in Sanlitun, following the studio’s design of the Tiffany & Co. flagship façade nearby. For Urban Revivo, the architects sought to create a building envelope capable of expressing both the fashion brand’s international ambitions and Beijing’s rich architectural identity.
The façade is the defining feature of the project. Inspired by the layered geometry of traditional Beijing roof tiles, it consists of an intricate composition of suspended aluminium tiles and cylindrical aluminium tubes arranged across the entire exterior. Rather than forming a flat surface, the aluminium elements are individually positioned to create a dynamic three-dimensional skin that projects outward in selected areas, producing gentle wave-like bulges that animate the building’s appearance.
Each aluminium component is finished in Urban Revivo’s signature blue and coated with a dichroic finish, allowing the façade to change colour as daylight conditions and viewing angles shift. Throughout the day, the surface transitions between vivid shades of blue and purple while reflecting the surrounding cityscape. The varying orientation of the aluminium panels creates constantly changing highlights, shadows and reflections, giving the façade a sense of movement despite its static construction. This combination of geometry, colour and light transforms the building into an eye-catching urban installation within Sanlitun’s competitive retail environment. 
Embedded within the aluminium envelope are seven circular portals inspired by traditional Chinese moon gates, a classic architectural feature symbolising transition and connection. These openings function as large display windows while breaking the rhythm of the metallic façade with carefully framed views into the retail spaces. The largest central opening marks the primary entrance, creating a dramatic arrival sequence that connects the exterior architectural language with the interior design.
Inside, the local architectural references continue through extensive use of grey brick, recalling the materials of Beijing’s historic hutong neighbourhoods. While the façade presents a contemporary interpretation of traditional craftsmanship, the interior provides a restrained backdrop that allows fashion collections to remain the visual focus.
The store unfolds across four levels, each defined by a distinct architectural language. Circular openings on the ground floor gradually evolve into arches, rounded rectangles and sculptural inverted curves on the upper floors, representing a transition from traditional forms to modern geometry. Material palettes also change throughout the building, with reflective surfaces and vibrant blue furnishings on the lower levels giving way to darker finishes, velvet textures and cobalt-blue upholstery within exclusive private shopping areas.
Complementing the retail experience are six immersive “Bold Rooms”, each designed around a unique material concept, including upholstered walls, recycled textile blocks, mirrored surfaces, timber display structures, adaptable curtain installations and glass-lined exhibition spaces overlooking the store’s atriums. MVRDV also designed the custom furniture, signage, clothing racks and display systems, ensuring a cohesive architectural identity throughout the flagship.
Source: MVRDV with additional information added by Glass Balkan
