Pentagram's concept for Christian Louboutin’s men’s shoe boutique in Selfridges has been shortlisted for a World Interior News award. Selfridges has the largest dedicated men’s shoe department in the world, selling over 250 brands. The boutique offers a luxurious space in this crowded retail environment.

Pentagram was briefed to create an immersive, masculine environment that captured the theatricality of Christian Louboutin’s designs. Contrasting materials and textures express this sense of drama and reflect the joyfulness that is synonymous with the personality of the French designer.

A lacquered timber panelled wall forms a ‘shop front’ to the boutique. The entrance is marked by a portal of marble, sourced by Christian Louboutin from Morocco – its high gloss finish contrasting with the soft leather and woven carpet floors used throughout the boutique in the brand’s signature red and deep grey tones.

Inside the 51 m2 space, two interconnecting rooms showcase a wide selection from the men’s shoe collection alongside bags and small leather goods. The first room includes a bespoke central lighting feature of suspended cut glass tubes. This illuminates a dramatic central display system of hand turned and carved wooden plinths of varying heights with red pony skin seats. Additional lighting is provided by backlit angular linings to the display shelves, featuring alabaster sourced from Spain.

In the second room, timber veneer walls and velvet upholstered seating offer balance to the marble detailing found throughout. Bespoke display cases within portal alcoves and display cases on shelves feature metal spiked interiors on which to showcase individual shoes.