Gem of the Gold Coast

THE GOLD COAST, a historic district in the Near North Side of Chicago, provided an ideal location for a new Cartier boutique. This past January, the Paris-based luxury jewelry brand planted its flag at 15 Oak Street with a stunning two-story, 6460-square-foot gem in this upscale community.

Cartier’s design team partnered with JT Magen (New York) to serve as construction manager for the retail fit-out and Atmosphere Design Group (Valhalla, N.Y.) to provide an environment reflective of the retailer’s image.

IMAGES: The two-story Cartier boutique in Chicago’s Gold Coast district features gold-toned surface treatments, art deco-inspired details and artworks depicting the brand’s panther. 📷 CARTIER

In a nod to art deco and Chicago’s rich architectural history, the façade on the corner of Oak and Rush features radius glass and custom imported, polished travertine panels adhered to an aluminum honeycomb. According to Abby Slywka, Senior Project Manager, Atmosphere Design Group, “The design intent was a gradual fading of the varied travertine pieces as the eye travels from the street level up to the top of the façade.”

JT Magen oversaw the transformation of the storefront’s façade. “Modifying the structural components of the existing façade to allow for installation of the new façade and glazing proved to be the most challenging,” says Tom Moran, project executive at JT Magen. “The façade had been previously modified a number of times to accommodate renovations and previous tenants.”

A series of windows with views of the street was a strategic design detail. “The window openings were designed to have a rhythm with the existing façade,” says Slywka. “The expansive open glass allows for maximum natural light, while the metal screens provide a sense of intrigue and privacy from the [exterior] street view.”

Consistent with Cartier’s aesthetic, customers are immersed in an environment highlighted by gold-toned surface treatments. “The gold ceilings are a hand-painted patina, a recurring theme to Cartier boutiques,” says Slywka. “The gold-toned finish around the wall display cases in the second-floor lounge are an oyster shell finish.”

The ground floor, which offers perfume and women’s accessories, features a light pearl-honed hexagonal marble floor in a flower mosaic pattern. The second level, with a custom rift-cut white oak mosaic floor, houses high jewelry, bridal and a VIP lounge. Large column covers on both levels are art deco-inspired custom molded plaster, while smaller second-floor column covers are made of fluted oak.

The “pièce de resistance” of Cartier’s new jewel is a white oak radius staircase with curved steel stringers and textured glass and a captivating wall mosaic depicting the iconic Cartier panther appearing along Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.