Project Description
FROM THE AIA:
The reinvention of the Marc Jacobs showroom, housed on a full floor of its Manhattan headquarters, signified a shift in the palette of materials that represent this established, iconic retail brand. The challenge was to maximize the use of daylight and create meeting spaces with relative privacy and acoustical control.
Offices line the north perimeter of the building; a large expanse of windows lines the western exposure, and two windows face south. A curvilinear glass form at the heart of the space is the design’s central organizing element, defining separate zones for merchandise while still allowing sunlight to filter deep into the space. The glass is imprinted with a gradient frit to create a subtle visual screen that provides privacy for seated guests and sweeping views of the full showroom for standing visitors. Throughout the showroom, opaque design elements are arranged laterally to allow maximum penetration of daylight to the interior.
The shape of the glass enclosure responds to the program as well as the structural condition of the building. Corian and polished stainless steel tables, overhead light fixtures, jewelry displays, and sculptural necklace display forms were custom designed as contemporary alternatives to traditional, off-the-shelf pieces.
During the day, sunlight streams through the windows and reaches deep into the floor plate, thereby reducing reliance on artificial light. Desks were equipped with LED task lighting, and motion sensors were installed in back-of-house program areas to conserve energy use.
For more information on the 2014 AIA Honor Awards, please visit http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/2014/interior-architecture/marc-jacobs/