In 2012, Christian Lahoude founded his studio in New York City, where he has conceived innovative and diverse retail designs for Alexander Wang and Jimmy Choo boutiques worldwide. Prior to starting his own firm, Christian Lahoude developed and implemented key rebranding initiatives as the Design Director at Tiffany & Co. and as a Lead Designer at Gucci’s Store Design Department. Christian gained his early professional experience at Jakob+McFarlane (Paris, FR), Massimiliano Fuksas (Paris, FR) and Peter Marino Architect (New York City, USA), where Christian had the opportunity to learn how to design high-end luxury retail spaces for clients, including Chanel, directly under the direction of Peter Marino. Through these experiences, Christian brings his refined and unique perspective to establishing the client’s aesthetic.
Christian Lahoude was raised in Paris, France, where he graduated from Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture de Paris Belleville in 2001. In 2004, he received his Masters of Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Christian Lahoude is fluent in five languages and imbues his work with the daily inspiration he finds in the art around him.
Christian Lahoude Studio, New York, NY, US, Founder/Creative Director
Christian Lahoude Studio is an architecture and design services firm based in New York City. The studio embeds luxury and establishes brand identity in high-end retail environments worldwide. Clients include:
JIMMY CHOO
• Developed new concept worldwide, implemented in New York, Milan and Chicago Flagship
• Designed key flagships worldwide, including multiple locations in New York, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, London
• Designed, overviewed and completed over 50 stores worldwide in less than 3 years
• Established the standards for architectural details, millwork fixtures and material standardization for global roll-out
ALEXANDER WANG
• Collaborated with Creative Director Alexander Wang to establish the brand’s new retail concept, creating a design aesthetic to be implemented worldwide
• Established the standards for millwork fixtures and material standardization for global roll-out
• Designed and managed an SKU capacity upgrade for the SoHo, New York flagship
• Project Locations: Shanghai, China; FLAGHIP STORE: Tokyo Aoyama; SHOP-IN-SHOP: Osaka, Hankyu, Isetan and Ginza, Japan; ROLL-OUT: Bangkok; Hong Kong; Cheongdam; Beijing and Seoul
MICHAEL KORS
• Evolved the brand’s existing store concept
• First store, a flagship, launched on London’s Regent Street in May 2016
HARRYS OF LONDON
• Established a new retail design concept for locations worldwide, elevating the brand’s vision to reflect its British Heritage
• Balanced a respect for tradition and timeless style with innovation and new technology
• Launched first location in London’s Burlington Arcade in July 2015, followed by Jeddah, KSA, in February 2016, and the brand’s first US store as well as flagship on Park Avenue, NY in June 2018
JOSEFINAS
• Designed, executed and supervised brand’s first retail location in NoLIta, New York
AISHTI: Lebanon’s premier luxury department store and mall
• Modified existing designs, improved the spacing in the Aïshti Foundation Mall, separating the department store by: ready-to-wear, women's, men's, kids, teenagers, jewelry, handbags, cosmetics; enhanced the design of the food court and market
• With brand identity firmly in mind, conceived the design for the Aïshti Urban Retreat – wellness and beauty destination
URBAN RETREAT
• Conceived the design for the wellness and beauty destination in Aishti, Beirut and Doha, Qatar
• Gave special treatment to each individual service area
• Developed an entirely new men’s barber for the Doha location
Tiffany & Co., New York, NY, US, DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
Established and implemented all store architecture and design aspects for Tiffany & Co. worldwide. Major initiatives included:
Tiffany & Co. New Store Design & Architectural Concept
- Initiated and directed the design of a new store design, rooted in the Tiffany brand heritage and identity
- Established a new decorative layer process with new furnishings, artwork and accessories
- Completed research for materials palette (glass, stone, wood, metal, fabrics, carpet)
- Led furniture and lighting design
- Hired, trained and supervised design staff with focused specialties
- Reviewed schedules and budgets with vice president and department heads
- Created a new customer experience with focus on music, scent, uniforms, etc. to enhance the shopping experience
- Collaborated with Tiffany internal groups: Visual Merchandising; Marketing; Product Development; Product Design
- Selected and coordinated with consultants and vendors
- Presented concepts to Senior Management and Regional Market leaders
- Select rollout locations included: ASIA PACIFIC – Hong Kong; Taipei; Shanghai; Melbourne; JAPAN – Ginza; Kyoto; Osaka; EUROPE – Barcelona; Nice; Milan; Frankfurt; London; Prague; Zurich; AMERICAS – New York City; New Jersey; Houston; Beverly Hills; San Jose (Costa Rica); Buenos Aires
Tiffany & Co. Watches – Store Design Concept
- Designed Created TLC boutique within the New York Flagship to launch the handbags collection
TLC - Tiffany Leather Collection Launch
- Created a press showroom for Lambertson & Truex leather goods in the Tiffany New York Flagship, including display tools
- Created TLC boutique within the New York Flagship to launch the handbags collection
Tiffany & Co. Corporate Office Relocation
- Member of the steering design committee
- Lead artwork program for new corporate offices at 200 Fifth Ave.
- Coordinate consultants, artists, internal committee
GUCCI, New York, NY, US, Senior Architectural Designer
Established in-house department of Architecture & Interior Design. Major initiatives were:
New GUCCI Global Store Design Concept
In collaboration with GUCCI Creative Director Frida Giannini, established and implemented all design aspects of the new GUCCI store concept:
- Prepared presentation drawings
- 3D computer modeling – work on photorealistic interior and exterior models of store concept and façade design
- Material development (glass, stone, wood, metal, fabrics, carpet)
- Furniture and lighting design, created prototype of millwork
- Selected and coordinated with consultants and vendors
- Handled all phases of project: schematic design; design development; construction documentation; construction administration (job site supervision)
- Hired, trained and supervised design staff
- Locations included: FLAGSHIPS in Rome; New York; London; Hong Kong; Macau; Shanghai; Paris; FREESTANDING STORES in Tokyo Shibuya Mall; San Francisco; Cannes; Munich; and SHOP-IN-SHOPS at Harrod’s London; Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s Boutique, NYC; Bergdorf Goodman Accessories, NYC; Galeries Lafayette, Paris; Printemps Haussman, Paris; Monte Carlo, Monaco
GUCCI Showroom – Milan
- Designed new showroom and reception, layout and mobile shelving units
- Designed creative director’s office layout and furniture
- Coordinated with visual merchandising team for hand-over
GUCCI – Global Store Roll-out Plan
- Created standard design manual to serve as template for regions
- Design-directed regional store planning teams on other GUCCI stores and shop-in-shops in Japan, China and America
- Supervised construction of prototypes in each region
Peter Marino Architect, New York, NY, US, Architectural Designer
Focused on design development for the luxury retail and hospitality markets.
Chanel Fine Jewelry New Worldwide Store Concept
- New design concept of Fine Jewelry & Watches boutiques
- Presentation drawings, 3D computer modeling and rendering
- Millwork development and prototypes
- Furniture, lighting design and material research
- Concept implemented in: Prince’s Building, Hong Kong – WAFI, Dubai - Ala Moana, Hawaii – Moscow - Paris
Other projects included:
- Chanel – Fine Jewelry New Worldwide Concept; Prince’s Building Flagship in Hong Kong; Boutiques in Kowloon and Lee Garden, Hong Kong, and Osaka and Namiki, Japan
- Fendi Palazzo Flagship, Rome – New design concept - Presentation drawings and 3D digital modeling
- Louis Vuitton, Champs-Elysees, Paris – Presentation drawings and 3D computer modeling
- Casino (Private Beach Club), Santa Barbara, California – Interior and terrace studies
- Yacht Club Costa Esmeralda, Sardinia – Façade and terrace extension
- 105 West 57th Street Residential Tower, New York – Design proposals of façade and building envelope
Harvard University, Cambridge USA, Masters, Master in Design studies
Masters in Design Studies, Post-Professional Degree: Digital Media in Design
New Technologies: New Materials and Technology for Architecture Seminar at the MIT Media Lab: Media Performance
TEACHING ASSISTANT GSD 1306 - Studio with Linda Pollak, Design Critic - Sculpture Center NYC
ECOLE D’ARCHITECTURE de SAINT ETIENNE+ Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs - France , St Etienne , France, Masters, Master in building project management
Post graduate D.E.S.S. Masters Program: Building Project Management
Essay: Project's Evolution and Role Interactions between Construction Parties
École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-Belleville, Paris, FR, Masters, DPLG
Post graduate Architect DPLG Master Degree - III cycle Studies in Architecture - Honors
Thesis Project: A Cultural Vocational Ground-Public Cultural Facilities for Byblos 2001
II cycle Studies in Architecture: Maîtrise 3 & 4 grades - Bachelors 1997-1999
Retail Design Institute Excellence in Execution, 1st Place
For the project: Solestice
New York, NY
VMSD Renovation, 1st Place
For the project: Josefinas
New York, NY
design:retail 40Under40, Award
APIDA Asian Pacific Interior Design Award, 1st Place
For the projects: Jimmy Choo Xian and Chengdu in China
