Venice is already a destination for so many things, history, architecture, landmarks, arts, events and now it adds luxury retail to that growing list. Welcome T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS, and it’s a very worthy addition to that list.
Located just beside the world famous Ponte Rialto along the Grand Canal, the building that’s T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS today, first built in 1228 and rebuilt between 1505 and 1508 after a fire, used to be the headquarters and restricted living quarters of the city’s German (Tedeschi) merchants.
In the 20th century the building was the Venice headquarters of the Poste Italiane. After being acquired by the Benetton Group in 2008, Dutch superstar architect Rem Koolhaas was asked to design and transform the Renaissance building into a shopping centre.
Back to current times, the building has indeed been transformed, T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS while retaining its heritage and character now houses the top luxury designer brands that any travel savvy fashionista would desire to buy in Italy. Balenciaga, Gucci, even the quirkier brands like Y-3, See by Chloe, and across all categories including apparel, timepieces, accessories, leather goods, it’s very comprehensive for a department store format that’s not super huge in size.
The interiors of T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS are lush, luxurious and extremely high spec. From the terrazzo flooring, numerous columns, arches lining the corridors to the innovative visual merchandising, they all create and enhance the grand shopping experience.
There is a lot of praise for the work that Rem Koolhaas has done to the interiors. Simply check out the online media coverage reviews, you’ll see many raving about the crimson red escalators, so iconic.
The design and shopping aside, the big attraction of T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS has to be its viewing terrace. You actually need to book a time slot in advance to access the terrace, that tells you how unmissable it is. Here’s what you can expect to see.
After the spectacular viewing terrace, it might be hard to be impressed by anything else, but its own in house gift merchandise is excellent too. This travel pouch with an illustration of Venice in the front is very well designed and executed. Works well as a souvenir but nothing kitschy about it, it could easily work as a casual clutch bag for running errands, and wouldn’t look sloppy at all.
To be honest, our shots aren’t the best, or that many, do google the store and you’ll find heaps more coverage on the department store, and more stunning views from the terrace.
Again, here is another example of retail executed to the highest standards, that it warrants itself a destination in an already iconic, destination city. Impressed doesn’t even begin to describe T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS, the experience. We can only say, go there and see, touch, buy for yourself.
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