Inside Malbon Golf’s New Manila Flagship Store

LA-based 22RE’s first project in Asia elevates sport and lifestyle retail with its store for golf brand Malbon

Los Angeles-based Dean Levin was transitioning his artistic practice to architecture and design under 22RE when Erica Malbon reached out to acquire one of his artworks. ‘During our conversation, she mentioned she was developing the first Malbon Golf store and from there, everything unfolded organically. I went on to design the first store in Carmel, California,’ Levin recalls.

Fast forward a few years and Levin was invited to design the brand’s new flagship store in Manila, its first in the region. ‘The brief was to create a multi-level retail experience that combines a shopping environment with an exclusive private club,’ he explains. Spanning 350 quare metres with an additional 60-square-metre VIP clubhouse, the space is intended to be a sculptural expression of Malbon’s signature aesthetic, infused with local materials and textures that reflect the region’s architectural vernacular.

The layout prioritises flow and discovery: a hidden putting room discreetly opens into the main retail area, while curved doors panelled in rich local mahogany conceal the fitting rooms, maintaining the continuity of form. And a sculptural winding staircase, panelled in the same mahogany and carved with an integrated handrail, leads to the clubhouse, where VIP clients can enjoy a more tailored experience.

The store’s centrepiece is a sweeping fiberglass curve that Levin envisaged as both a spatial anchor and a conceptual guide, directing visitors through their experiences with tactile contrast and clean lines. ‘Our practice is founded on the belief that modernism is a global language, one that adapts to its context,’ says Levin. ‘In this case, the use of fibreglass references traditional thatched roofs.’ 

The clothing displays are realised in quiet, natural tones, ensuring the focus remains on the product. ‘There’s quite a bit of custom work in the space, from understated elements like clothing racks, seating, tables and display cases to bold features like the five-metre chrome sculpture and the walnut and travertine spiral staircase,’ says Levin. Malbon’s Philippines flagship marks a thoughtful approach that considers the totality of the offline retail experience, celebrating the brand’s sport-lifestyle aesthetic with a deeply considered, site-specific design. 

Images by Josh Robenstone