Nakhla is an heirloom jewelry store passed down through generations of Coptic Egyptians, keen on preserving their heritage. It is located in the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of Ramsis II. The space is designed to frame the pieces in an adorned yet understated atmosphere, extracting inspiration and guidance from the materials and the surrounding monuments. The concept of the store seamlessly merges the Coptic heritage of Nakhla with the rich history of the ancient Egyptians. Every angle is meticulously crafted in order to overlay the delicacy and femininity of the pieces against the grandeur of the monuments. The design needed to reflect the identity of the brand that is heavily inspired by ancient Egypt and coptic heritage, to highlight the 24k gold pieces that were carefully handmade and frame them in an embellished light using materials, colours and light.

A key component in the conceptualization of this store is that it exists seamlessly amongst ancient Egyptian monuments without disrupting the flow of the Museum. The design inspiration exists at the intersection between ancient and modern history. We successfully achieved this goal by utilizing raw materials and earthy colours, while contrasting the marble with metal in order to direct the eye to jewelry pieces. To immerse the customer in the museum experience, we ensured that the monuments are still visible from every corner of the store.

This store is the introduction of the brand to the public, acting as a flagship location as well as the first walk-in exhibition of Nakhla's esteemed jewelry. The main priority was for the design to reflect the ethos of the brand and seamlessly merge it with the environment of the Grand Egyptian Museum. The inspiration of the materials was extracted from earthy tones and ancient Egyptian monuments. The primary materials for the store were split face marble, brass and tinted oakwood. 

The design of Nakhla is prompted by ancient Egyptian temples. This motif is present in the Nefertiti statues as much as it is in the split face marble. In regards to the interior of the store the main challenge was properly utilizing the small space and making sure it serves its purpose. The angularity of the space also posed a challenge; however, we were able to utilize these angularities to enhance the experience. We focused on creating a flow to the space and taking advantage of each nook that the space provides. working with the lines set out by the parameters of the space in order to create a cohesive central display units.

The store meets the principles of inclusive design by using the heritage and history of Coptic Egyptians to inspire the journey of the store. Textures were utilized in order to enrich and optimize the experience of the store, making it possible to use multiple senses in order to navigate it. We ensured the mobilization of our resources by using local marble, additionally reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation of heavy marble.