Press Release opening Prada Osaka Shinsaibashi - Prada Group

press release
PRADA OPENS ITS FIRST
FREESTANDING STORE IN OSAKA, , JAPAN
Milano, Italy, July 15 th 2013 – Prada opens its first freestanding store in Osaka, Japan, in the
upscale Shinsaibashi district. The store, designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, offers the
men's and women's ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories and footwear collections and it
occupies a total surface of about 1500 square metres on five levels, reaching up to 30 metres
in height.
The imposing outer storefront, which pays tribute to artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, is a structure
made of backlit panels in golden-coloured aluminium and polished steel, that creates an
unusual kinetic effect, both in daylight and at night-time. At the base, a wide entrance is
flanked by two windows.
Different environments characterised by unique atmospheres alternate at individual levels,
emphasised by a sequence of ceiling openings that creates an unusual visual connection
between different floors and leads to a transparent skylight.
On the ground floor, fixtures in polished steel and crystal, with green fabric backdrops and
black marble bases, enhance the men's and women's leather goods and accessories
collections. The black and white chequered marble floor, one of Prada's historic brand
identity elements, becomes almost optical. Display counters with details in coloured saffiano
leather and green velvet seats define the environment. A staircase in black Marquina marble,
framed in bronze-coloured metal panels, wraps around the volume occupied by the elevator,
which is made of crystal and burnished metal.
On the first floor, the space is defined by green fabric walls with display niches dedicated to
women's leather goods and footwear; furniture is completed by green velvet seats and by
crystal and polished steel tables.

On the second floor, that offers women's ready-to-wear, green fabric walls and display fixtures
made of perspex panels combine with geometrically shaped tables and with the supple
“Clover Leaf” green velvet sofas, designed by Verner Panton and exclusively reproduced for
Prada.
The two upper levels, that display the men's collections, are characterised by thin staves
flooring and ebony wood walls. Precious cases and counters in palladium-coloured metal
lend great personality to the whole space, which is completed with rust-coloured ostrich
leather sofas and dark brown carpets.
TRIBUTE BY PRADA TO THE ARTISTIC WORK OF CARLOS CRUZ-DIEZ
Prada wishes to express its admiration of French-Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, one of
the leaders of the kinetic art movement, an innovative form of dynamic expression with
strong visual impact. Having always greatly appreciated Carlos Cruz-Diez and his
contribution to this artistic genre, Prada intends paying public homage to his work of art
which was the starting point in the development of the Prada Osaka Shinsaibashi boutique
façade, 2-8-18 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0085, Japan.
For further information:
Prada Press Office
Tel. +39.02.541921
e-mail: ufficio.stampa@prada.com