On February 20, 2025, an event that redefined interior design took place at the International Property Awards in London. Solomia, part of the Antonovych Group, won two prestigious awards for the Versace Home showroom in Dubai: Best Retail Interior Arabia and Best International Retail Interior. But behind this triumph lies a complex journey of implementation, full of challenges, innovative solutions, and overcoming stereotypes.
When the Solomia design team, led by Svetlana Antonovich, began developing the project, they had an ambitious goal: not just to create an interior, but to translate the Versace philosophy into an architectural space. This required unconventional thinking, the search for new materials and technologies, and the solution of many technical and bureaucratic tasks. For example, the brand’s symbol – the Medusa head – was conceived as a key element of the ceiling decor, but its integration required incredible precision and attention to detail. As a result, a huge relief ceiling installation of the Gorgon’s head was created, which gazes down through two floors, emphasizing the brand’s power and grandeur. This accent element – the Gorgon Medusa medallion, the brand’s symbol – is effectively highlighted through a second light, creating a mystical sense of an ancient myth’s presence in a modern space. The team personally controlled every stage of production, making changes until the result was perfect.
The project faced a number of difficulties: strict Dubai building codes, numerous inspection checks, and the search for craftsmen capable of realizing such bold ideas. However, each obstacle became an impetus for finding innovative solutions. One such solution was placing the Gorgon logo, made of Pure Black marble, not in the center of the wall, but on the corner, with deep milling and brushing, creating a unique effect.
In the conference rooms, the same technique was used, but with Calacatta marble, playing on the contrasts of light and dark.
The result exceeded expectations: the showroom became not just a display of the Versace Home collection, but a true architectural production, where every element emphasizes the brand’s strength and aesthetics. The two-level structure of the space, unexpected compositional solutions, and the combination of traditional motifs with ultra-modern execution – all contributed to the victory at the prestigious award. Solomia not only created an interior but changed the very perception of retail space in the design industry.
This project is a clear proof that gravity and stereotypes are not an obstacle for true art.