Dior doubles Milan space with new House on Via Montenapoleone

Dior, the French luxury house operated by Christian Dior Couture, has doubled its space on Via Montenapoleone in Milan with a new House of Dior. House is the brand's word for a large flagship store. The new site runs over three levels and was more than two years in the making, according to WWD.

The store sits in a neoclassical building dating back to the late 17th century. The space is spread across three floors. It has seven windows facing the street. There are two main entrances on Via Montenapoleone and a third entrance in the courtyard.

Dior knows the street well. Its previous unit on Via Montenapoleone opened in 2001. That store was renovated in 2012. For the larger site, Dior took over a former store of Burberry, the British luxury house. The new House doubles the space of the previous unit.

American architect Peter Marino conceived the interiors. Belgian landscape architect Peter Wirtz designed the terraces, inner courtyards and vertical gardens. Vertical gardens are walls planted with greenery. The project includes two large courtyards and two terraces with plants and flowers.

The business behind the building is led by Delphine Arnault. She is chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture.

For visitors, this means more room to move. Seven windows give a clear view in from the pavement. Two street entrances ease the flow at busy hours. The courtyard entrance offers a quieter way in.

What makes this stand out is the garden feel. Planting softens the old stonework. Courtyards bring daylight deep into the plan. Terraces open the store to the sky.

Work on an old building takes patience. Walls must be kept. Levels must be joined. Two years points to careful construction behind the finished rooms. The new House keeps Dior on the same street it has traded from since 2001. Only now it has twice the space to show in.