WHEN MEN’S FASHION RETAILER ATELIER NEEDED TO RELOCATE, THE OWNERS COMMISSIONED MR TO DESIGN THEIR NEW STORE. OCCUPYING A 1900 SQUARE FOOT FORMER PRINTING HOUSE IN TRIBECA, THE SPACE WAS RAW, WITH A NEAR PERFECT, RECTANGULAR FLOOR PLAN, HIGH CEILINGS, ARCHED DOORWAYS AND TWO WALLS OF WINDOWS. ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES IN THE DESIGN WAS TO MAINTAIN THE INDUSTRIAL FEELING OF THE SPACE. PLASTER WAS STRIPPED FROM STRUCTURAL COLUMNS TO REVEAL ORIGINAL IRON BEAMS. PAINT WAS PARTIALLY STRIPPED FROM THE STEEL WINDOWS AND DOORS TO CREATE A DISTRESSED LOOK, AND A NEW CONCRETE FLOOR WAS POURED AND TINTED BLACK. THE STEEL DOORS WERE CHANGED TO GLASS AND ONE OF THE TWO EXISTING ENTRANCES WAS CHANGED TO A WINDOW FOR DISPLAY. MR SET OUT TO CREATE A SIMPLE AND SOPHISTICATED ENVIRONMENT THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE MULTI-BRAND’S AESTHETIC.

ALONG ONE OF THE PERIMETER WALLS, A 52’ RUN OF DRAWERS WAS BUILT IN, FINISHED IN BLACK RESIN-COMPOSITE RECYCLED PAPER. A CUSTOM 16’ CASH WRAP WAS BUILT WITH A COUNTER OUT OF SMOKED GLASS, BACK-PAINTED GRAY. LIGHTING RESEMBLED AN ART INSTALLATION THROUGH THE USE OF OVERHEAD FLUORESCENT FIXTURES AND HALOGEN TRACKS FOR BOTH WARM AND COOL ILLUMINATION. A LOW PLATFORM DISPLAYED SHOES, AND CLOTHING WAS HUNG ON FREESTANDING RACKS MADE OF SQUARE RODS IN BLACKENED STEEL WHICH WERE ARRANGED IN A ROOM OF THEIR OWN. BLACK HAIR-ON-HIDE WAS USED ON THE WALLS OF THE FITTING ROOMS WHICH WERE HIDDEN FROM VIEW BEHIND AN OVERSIZED THREE-PANEL STANDING MIRROR. A CAREFULLY SELECTED COLLECTION OF FURNITURE AND ART ENHANCED THE SPACE, INCLUDING WORKS BY GABRIELLA CRESPI, REI KAWAKUBO, JOSEPH BEUYS, AUGUST SANDER AND HIROSHI SUGIMOTO. MR-DESIGNED DISPLAY CASES FOR JEWELRY COMPLETED THIS COLLECTION OF CURATED PIECES.

PHOTOS: ERIC LAIGNEL