UBS HOC x Dior Exhibition by opng: A Fusion of Haute Couture and Architectural Elegance

The UBS HOC x Dior Exhibition, designed by opng / Jeffrey Inaba, transforms New York’s iconic former Chase Manhattan Bank into a spectacular showcase of fashion history. Spanning 30,000 square feet, the exhibition merges cultural architecture, museum design, and high-fashion curation, offering visitors an immersive journey through Dior’s legendary creative legacy.

Set around Isamu Noguchi’s Sunken Garden (1964), the exhibition uses the rugged water and basalt landscape as a dramatic, sculptural backdrop, emphasizing the refinement of Dior’s haute couture pieces. Ten intersecting display walls orbit the garden, guiding visitors through works from every Dior creative director—from Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, and Gianfranco Ferré, to John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

The curation presents a multi-sensory experience, combining gowns, accessories, archival sketches, videos, and newly commissioned photography by Brigitte Niedermair. Visitors witness the meticulous art of haute couture construction on a 24-foot-long work table, while Niedermair’s photographs of iconic silhouettes adorn the 60-foot 'Silhouette Wall', creating a visual narrative of design evolution across decades.

The space balances historical architecture with modern exhibition design. The former bank’s mid-20th century architecture by SOM (1961), with its high ceilings and sculptural details, amplifies the exhibition’s sense of grandeur, while echoing Dior’s vision of urbane life and elegance. Every element of the exhibition, from spatial circulation to display composition, is carefully designed to highlight craftsmanship, artistry, and the storied legacy of the House of Dior.

By seamlessly combining fashion history, immersive exhibition design, and architectural heritage, the UBS HOC x Dior Exhibition sets a new benchmark in the museum and cultural architecture space, offering an experience where art, design, and fashion converge in an unforgettable dialogue.

All the photographs are works of Naho Kubota