In 2024, Tiffany & Co. opened a new store in Cancún, Mexico, with a 3D printed façade designed by Rotterdam-based architecture firm MVRDV. The store sits in La Isla Shopping Village, an open-air shopping centre in Cancún’s Hotel Zone. This project combines advanced fabrication techniques with design references drawn from the local environment. It provides an example of material application relevant to architects, interior designers, and product designers focused on material innovation and sustainability.

Biomimicry and Digital Fabrication Techniques

The design takes inspiration from the nearby Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the world’s second-largest reef system. The façade mimics the branching, mesh-like forms of Gorgonia sea fans, coral species native to the Caribbean. Designers digitally modelled the coral pattern and produced it through 3D printing. This technique enabled intricate detailing that is challenging to achieve using traditional manufacturing methods.

A beach-inspired colour gradient flows through the design. It transitions from Tiffany’s signature blue to a sandy hue, reflecting Cancún’s coastal environment. The façade’s depth measures 75 millimetres, adding both visual and structural complexity.

Structural Approach and Material Efficiency

The Cancún façade builds on MVRDV’s earlier 3D printed façade for Tiffany at Singapore Changi Airport, completed in 2023. Both projects share core design elements, but the Cancún façade includes refinements. Mechanical fixings were eliminated in favour of interlocking 3D printed panels secured with adhesive. This approach simplifies assembly and may reduce material waste.

Designing the store’s three smaller display windows posed a technical challenge. Traditional rigid frames were omitted. Instead, discreet 3D printed supports brace the façade against the glass, maintaining stability while preserving the intended appearance.

Collaboration and Manufacturing Details

The project involved 3D printing specialists Aectual and engineering firm BUROMILAN. Aectual’s large-scale additive manufacturing enabled the creation of complex geometries using recyclable polymers. This method supports industry efforts toward circularity and sustainable material use.

Compared to conventional subtractive manufacturing, the 3D printing process reduces waste. Additionally, the modular interlocking design allows for disassembly and potential reuse or recycling. This approach aligns with circular construction principles.

Interior Design Elements

Interior designer Balmaceda incorporated local materials, artisanal crafts, and marine motifs. These elements reflect the store’s proximity to the beach and the broader Caribbean aesthetic, ensuring continuity between the exterior and interior spaces.

Relevance for Design Disciplines

The Tiffany & Co. Cancún project shows the application of digital fabrication, biomimicry, and sustainable material practices in commercial retail design. It offers insights for architects, interior designers, and product designers exploring 3D printing, circular material systems, and nature-inspired forms in modern design projects.

For other Tiffany & Co storefronts by MVRDV, click here.

Source: MVRDV
Photos: Tiffany & Co