CAPS Architects

CAPS is a discreet Swiss architecture practice that has become over the last 20 years the destination of choice for global Luxury Brands such as Cartier, De Beers, Vertu, Christian Lacroix, Hugo Boss and Escada – to name only but a few – which have been looking for store designs that are a precise reflection of their rich and complex brand personalities. For such an acclaimed agency, its founder Christophe Carpente is surprisingly approachable and soft-spoken. He values listening over speaking, curiosity over artistic detachment and firmly believes that his studio must gain an almost forensic understanding of the brand’s unique identity and values in order to create retail spaces that often become the timeless anchors at the heart of the commercial success of the Luxury Industry.

Only then can the creative work begin, eschewing grandiose statements for a carefully measured yet powerful expression of the brand’s DNA, using a sensorial approach to space, lighting and materials, furniture and visual merchandising, designing a wealth of subtle expressive layers throughout that are ultimately essential to the branding of a Luxury store. The delivery of single store locations follows naturally thanks to CAPS dedicated attention to and coordination of its network of professional experts on four continents.