Artisan jewellery brand Temple of the Sun has opened a flagship store in Sydney, adding to its Byron Bay headquarters and store.
The new store is located at the Intersection Paddington, on the corner of Oxford Street and Glenmore Road, a high street-style area that also houses other brands such as Aje, Jac+Jack, Lee Mathews, Maggie Marilyn, Oroton and Venroy.
Temple of the Sun was founded in 2014 by Yonna Derofe and Darren Gallant. Since launch, the brand opened a 660 square metre headquarters in Byron Bay, which houses its initial flagship store, a showroom, a fine jewellery studio and an office space.
The new flagship in Sydney is influenced by the aesthetic of the ancient Basilica Cistern in Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern was originally built in the 5th century AD in the heart of Constantinople and used to store and provide water to the palace and its surrounds.
“Though our store is very diminutive compared to the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, our design inspiration, the tall, narrow dimensions of our retail store lent themselves to the theme,” Gallant said. “We created a barrel vault ceiling to make the most of the vertical space, accentuating the height in contrast to the space’s narrow width.
“The column reliefs supporting the ceiling on their side also help emphasise the dimensions and symmetry of the space. The walls feature grey Venetian plaster, an ancient technique first developed in Ancient Rome around 2000 years ago.
“We chose it for its organic texture, which is all at once ancient in heritage but also contemporary in its aesthetic. The floor is a high gloss clear epoxy over a stained concrete base, effectively reflecting the structure above.”
The Paddington store will be the brand’s first in Sydney, housing Temple’s full offering of demi-fine solid gold, Ceremonial and Heritage jewellery. Demi-fine pieces are crafted from gold vermeil or sterling silver, while the solid gold offering ranges from 9-18k gold.
The Ceremonial range is designed for life milestones with uniquely set diamonds and precious gems.
Temple’s 24k gold Heritage collection is crafted by master artisans in Istanbul.