In Greek mythology, Gaia is the goddess of earth, considered a supreme immortal, a symbol of both the beauty of nature and divine femininity. A flagship in a new city for a clothing brand named after the deity, Cult Gaia, must live up to the otherworldly moniker. New York–based architecture and interior design firm Sugarhouse outfitted the shop’s Miami boutique with allusions to temple architecture and Persian ancestry to create a fitting interior that is natural yet built, fantastical yet real.
The ethereal concept for the brand begins at street level, as the A-frame store, inspired by local casitas, is wrapped in 1,800 tiles. They form a mural of the Tree of Life, created by artist Michael Chandler and inspired by Cult Gaia’s founder Larian Hekmat’s Persian heritage and Henri Rousseau’s painting The Dream. The hand-painted mural depicts a blossoming tree surrounded by vegetation, birds, and flower crown–wearing nymphs, making the otherwordly identity of the brand apparent even before entrance.
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