Jil Sander Hamburg Showroom

Through adaptive reuse, Gabellini Sheppard restored and transformed a historic villa on the banks of Lake Alster in Hamburg, Germany, into a luxury retail showroom for fashion designer Jil Sander. Originally built in the mid-nineteenth century, the 18,000-square-foot villa had sustained considerable damage during the Second World War and a subsequent period of occupation by the German Finance Ministry before beginning a new chapter as the Jil Sander Hamburg Showroom in July 1996.

Restoration Approach

The conversion from Ministry to Showroom after years of neglect required extensive renovation and restoration of the building's interior, exterior, and three-acre park in which the building is situated. Although the surviving character, craftsmanship, and remaining details of the original villa suggested a historic restoration of the Belle Étage—the principal reception floor—the extensive program of showrooms and offices and the associated technical considerations demanded a radical restructuring of the space and function of the building. Gabellini Sheppard’s approach to the project was to maintain a balance between old and new, with precise interventions where required.

Old Meets New

Meticulous restoration of the villa's plaster reliefs and woodwork is complemented by a bold but unobtrusive reconfiguring of the interior, which is filled with furnishings and fixtures designed by Gabellini Sheppard. The entire space is unified by a new floor of Spanish Arria limestone. The stitching together of old and new is most apparent in the main foyer, where a pre-existing grand stair to the first floor is balanced by a new stair to the lower level. This former basement was excavated in order to create a buffet, dining area, and meeting room. Invisible light sources dissolve surfaces and corners in contrast to the more ornamental treatment of the floors above. A terrace, formed as part of the excavation, connects the dining area to the surrounding park.