Tiffany & Co has opened a new flagship store in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun district, featuring a sculptural facade designed to resemble a piece of jewellery.

Designed by architecture firm MVRDV, the four-storey, 1000sqm boutique is covered by a 20-metre curved exterior made of translucent, frosted glass fins, coloured in the brand’s signature icy blue.

MVRDV said the sculpture was intended to interact with changing daylight and give the building “an ethereal presence”.

The concept was inspired by Tiffany’s Bone Cuff, using the piece as a key visual reference.

“When viewed from an angle, the layering effect of the dense glass fins amplifies the effects of the light, highlighting the facade’s shape,” said Jacob van Rijs, founding director of MVRDV.

“As you pass close to the building, you see glimpses in between the fins and the jewellery inside. The light filtering through and reflecting off of the translucent glass creates a delicate interplay that is constantly changing as you move.”

Inside, visitors enter a space finished with a champagne-gold leaf ceiling and crystal chandeliers, with handcrafted, gilded wall treatments that add texture and detail throughout the store.

Tiffany said the sculpture was designed with sustainability in mind, using glass made from recycled materials. It is also fully demountable, allowing its fins and brackets to be removed and repurposed at the end of their lifespan.