<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"For craftsmanship to be truly timeless, it must be not only consistently brilliant in execution but also adaptive in spirit, keeping pace with shifting tastes. Such agility has long been mastered by Baccarat, the venerable French crystal company, which will celebrate its 250th anniversary next year. In anticipation of that milestone, the brand has just unveiled a gleaming new Manhattan flagship store, a setting that pays homage to Baccarat's enduring legacy while also projecting a forward-thinking sensibility.\n\nPinterestFacebook\u00A9Joshua McHugh\n\nThe 2,800-square-foot space was designed by Rafael de C\u00E1rdenas Ltd./Architecture at Large. With offices in New York, London, and soon Paris, C\u00E1rdenas has become well-known for devising bold, au courant shops, restaurants, and residences. At first glance, the traditional artistry of Baccarat's ornate offerings (explored in\u00A0Baccarat: 250 Years of Craftsmanship and Creativity from Rizzoli) might seem out of sync with C\u00E1rdenas's distinctively edgy style. But Baccarat has for years been collaborating with inventive contemporary designers\u2014Philippe Starck, Arik Levy, and Jaime Hayon among them. And C\u00E1rdenas shares the brand's affinity for striking forms and crisp, elegantly chiseled details, all of which feature prominently in the new outpost. \"I approached the project with faceting and cutting in mind,\" he says.\n\nPinterestFacebook\u00A9Joshua McHugh\n\nReferences to such techniques abound, whether in the glass fa\u00E7ade's etched triangular motif or the front gallery's corrugated Macassar-ebony walls, embedded with LEDs and strips of mirror. That double-height space serves as a showcase for some of the firm's signature pieces, including chandeliers installed in a whimsical constellation overhead and exquisite candelabra arranged on freestanding boxlike pedestals. Deeper within the shop are rooms for additional displays of jewelry, decorative objects, stemware, and the full range of light fixtures. Through-out these areas C\u00E1rdenas chose materials\u2014from warm-gray suede and black granite to white-gold leaf and stainless steel\u2014that either foreground or reflect the precious items. Several wall expanses are shingled in crystal tiles from a soon-to-be-released line with exciting architectural applications. The overall atmosphere is moody and intimate. \"Crystal lends itself to a dark palette and dim light,\" C\u00E1rdenas notes.\n\nCreating dynamic spaces is clearly on the company's mind: Just blocks away, construction is under way on the Baccarat Hotel &amp;amp; Residences, a 50-story tower designed by Skidmore, Owings &amp;amp; Merrill that promises to be as dazzling as the new flagship. As C\u00E1rdenas says of Baccarat's legendary workmanship, \"They certainly don't cut corners.\" Baccarat flagship, 635 Madison Ave., New York, NY; baccarat.com"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/baccarat-manhattan-new-york-flagship-store-article>