Last week, Bang & Olufsen opened the doors to its new Martin Place flagship with an evening that brought together design, music and Sydney’s creative community. Global artist and GOT7 member Mark Tuan joined guests for the opening, offering a suitably music-focused introduction to the brand’s newest Australian address.
Located at 14 Martin Place, the 162-square-metre store occupies three levels of an existing sandstone building. Softening the weighty neo-classical exterior, the interiors introduce a warmer and more residential language of light oak, layered lighting, soft furnishings and curtains.
The experience changes as you move upwards. A reception space in deep blue and red occupies the entry level, followed by an earthy-toned living room showcasing Bang & Olufsen’s Atelier collection. On the upper floor, green tones frame a bar, meeting space and VIP listening room. Dedicated listening areas are woven throughout, allowing the technology to be experienced away from the usual retail-floor setting.
The opening coincides with Bang & Olufsen’s centenary year. Founded in Denmark in 1925, the company has built much of its identity around the meeting of acoustic technology, industrial design and craftsmanship. The Martin Place store is its second Sydney location and fifth in Australia, joining Double Bay alongside stores in Melbourne and Adelaide. Its Australian retail expansion has been undertaken with longstanding partner Design Collection Denmark.
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There is also an Australian art connection to the new space. Artist Holly Terry has created the Art of the A9 – Sydney Edition, reinterpreting the sculptural Beosound A9 speaker through her characteristically colourful abstract work. Initially exclusive to Martin Place before a national rollout, it forms part of Bang & Olufsen’s ongoing Art of the A9 series. The store also displays the made-to-order Beolab 90 Titan Edition, released as part of the company’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.
At the opening itself, the qualities of the building became clearer as guests moved between its levels. Indeed, the vertical arrangement creates a sequence of rooms, shifting from the activity of Martin Place below to increasingly intimate spaces for listening and conversation above. The residential quality of the interiors also gives the speakers and audio systems some context, closer to the environments in which they will ultimately be used.
For a brand whose products range between technology, furniture and object, Martin Place provides a striking setting. The solidity of the existing sandstone architecture sits against the precision of Bang & Olufsen’s contemporary products, while the series of smaller rooms makes listening, rather than simply looking, central to the experience.
Bang & Olufsen
bang-olufsen.com
Holly Terry Art
hollyterry.com
Photography
Esteban La Tessa
