Gold Rush | Metropolitan Studio of Architecture (MSA)

The Project GOLD RUSH, a retail store, is a celebration of Gold as a color as well as a cultural symbol for the subcontinent. Gold is widely present in the culture of this part of the world. It is not only found in the form of precious metal but also shows its presence in the landscape of this area starting from the color of the sunshine to the ripened wheat fields to the color of the desert sand.

Eduwik Architecture Excellence Awards 2022
Third Award | Interiors – Retail (Built)

Project Name: Gold Rush
Project Category: Interiors – Retail

Studio Name: Metropolitan Studio of Architecture (MSA)
Design Team: Syed Fawad Hussain, Shumaila Hassan
Area:
Year: 2021
Location: Lahore, Pakistan
Consultants: MEP: Econ
Photography Credits: Shehzad Manzoor
Other Credits:

It even transcends visual culture and entered into the language as well. In fashion, gold jewellery transcends all norms of the conventional fashion sense.  It is part of all types of clothes irrespective of their colors or cuts. Gold requires no matching.

On the other hand, the store design explores gold paper as an architectural interior material that provides the interior a color loved by all along with a unique texture. This bold application of the paper as the material gives the store a distinctive presence. Twenty-two thousand gold leaf papers were pasted by hand in this store. Each paper bearing the touch of the craft person acquires a unique texture and form. The store design is kept minimal intentionally so that the material gets a chance to express itself more profoundly.

Gold has shaped people of this part of the world in many ways as much as they have molded it into their material culture. This very store is also an expression of the association this part of the people has with gold.