Editor’s Note
Tiffany & Co. has unveiled a new boutique in Cancún, featuring a pioneering 3D-printed facade. Designed by MVRDV, the coral-inspired structure is rendered in the brand’s iconic Tiffany Blue®, merging innovative architecture with luxury retail in the heart of La Isla shopping center.
Tiffany & Co. has opened the doors of its new store in Cancún, surprising with a striking 3D printed facade. The facade pattern features a design inspired by corals, and the chosen color is the signature Tiffany Blue®. The new store is located in La Isla, a shopping center in Cancún known for housing major luxury brands. The facade was designed by Dutch architects from the MVRDV studio, marking the second time they have collaborated on a facade for the brand. Indeed, this is already the second store where Tiffany & Co. has opted for 3D printed elements. Last year, its branch at Singapore’s Changi International Airport also made headlines.
Regarding the fabrication of the facade, they turned for the second time to the architecture and interior design firm Aectual. They use 3D printing to create pieces through circular processes. In this specific project, they have utilized obsolete fishing nets that pollute the oceans to compose a 3D printing material. In this way, the new facade highlights Tiffany & Co.’s commitment to the region, as for 20 years it has supported the conservation of marine life in the area.
The facade design is inspired by gorgonians, a type of fan-shaped coral. The facade consists of a coral vine that covers almost the entire store, leaving the main entrance and display windows free. This work has been 3D printed with a material that is a combination of recycled fishing nets and plastic waste recovered from the oceans. Although the additive manufacturing process has not been specified, we can deduce they followed the same one as for the Singapore store. On that occasion, they created a screen positioned over the store’s windows.
Those involved in creating this facade drew inspiration from the corals and white sand beaches of the Riviera Maya. Meanwhile, the store’s interior stands out for its Chukum architectural finish, a technique inherited from the Maya. Francesca Fortini, Vice President of Creative Concept Design at Tiffany & Co., has stated about the new store:
Since 2000, the Tiffany & Co. Foundation has granted over 100 million dollars to help organizations in areas such as responsible mining, urban parks, decorative arts, and coral conservation. In recent years, the brand has revealed a clear interest and dedication to ocean protection. One example is the support for the association The Coral Reef Alliance, which promotes sustainable practices in the cruise tourism industry in Cozumel, Belize, and Honduras—an activity representing 30% of tourism revenue. The association is responsible for raising awareness about the impact of cruises and tourism in the area and works to improve coral health in the Caribbean.
In addition to supporting associations, the brand states that for two decades it has not used coral in its products and has undertaken the task of raising awareness among its customers and other jewelers to do the same. Now that they have turned to 3D printing and recycled materials for the second time for their stores, they reaffirm their commitment to the planet.