Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Ben Sherman flagship store by Brinkworth in London.

Founded in 1963 in Brighton, UK by Ben Sherman (neé Arthur Benjamin Sugarman), Ben Sherman is one of the most iconic clothing brands in both the UK and the world. Best known for its defining button-down shirts, Ben Sherman has maintained cult status for a remarkable five decades, transcending whatever the fashion of the moment is.

But with the opening of a new concept store in their flagship location on Carnaby Street in London, it remains no doubt that this is the new look for Ben Sherman. Designed in-house, the logo and identity have been brought to life in a retail environment by Brinkworth. Brinkworth has produced a global retail concept for Ben Sherman. References to icons of British design, such as pubs, pie and mash shops and London Underground stations make a strong visual statement, and a fresh environment for the legendary brand.

VIDEO:

*Find out more about my trip to London by checking out the Instagram Photo Journal using this hashtag: #LondonCallingATR

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Marc O’Polo Flagship Store in Munich.

Innovation for a new generation: the new concept for the Marc O’Polo flagship store opens the doors to a new sense of retail well-being. After more than a decade, time had come for a completely new redesign. The result is now on view in the very heart of Munich—between Theatinerstraße and the Fünf Höfe. Inside the new world of Marc O’Polo, the layout of the rooms, the interior design and lighting are choreographed to communicate ‘Nordic lifestyle’ and highlight the philosophy of the company with Swedish roots: urban, modern, casual.

The feeling of visiting a modernized, historic apartment building soon takes over after entering the store through its two-storey entranceway. Once immersed in this world, all 800 square meters instantly communicates a love for detail. Scandinavian designer furniture, high ceilings, carefully combined items like suitcases, photos, books and large, unexpected objects all bring the store to life: the lifestyle of the urban nomad.

Sustainability is the priority and company mission of Marc O’Polo and dan pearlman, and is also evident in this project’s careful use of long-lasting, energy efficient and high quality, natural materials. Here specialized retail concepts are coupled with environmental responsibility.

Location

Marc O’Polo Flagship Store
FÜNF HÖFE
(Altstadt – Lehel)
80333 München
Germany

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) Special Feature: Carhartt WIP Store London Earlham Street.

During my visit to the Carhartt WIP Store London Earlham Street in Covent Garden I had the pleasure of meeting James “Jimmy” Ozanne who works the shop as a sales assistant, but is also doing a part-time internship at Blood Brother – a small menswear label based in Shoreditch where he’s a member of the wholesale & marketing team but also lends support to all aspects of the independent fashion brands business (Blood Brother feature on ATR coming soon).

Carhartt WIP Store London Earlham Street features the distinct, minimalist aesthetic as the others in the fleet and captures WIP’s simple nature while tying back to Carhartt’s storied workwear past.

Check out the space in the above photos.

Location

Carhartt WIP Store London Earlham Street
15-17 Earlham Street
Covent Garden
WC2H 9LL London
Great Britain
Phone: +44 (0) 2078361551

Opening Hours:
Mon 11.00 am – 07.00 pm
Tue 11.00 am – 07.00 pm
Wed 11.00 am – 07.00 pm
Thu 11.00 am – 07.00 pm
Fri 11.00 am – 07.00 pm
Sat 11.00 am – 07.00 pm
Sun 12.00 am – 06.00 pm

*Find out more about my trip to London by checking out the Instagram Photo Journal using this hashtag: #LondonCallingATR

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Aesop Shibuya by Torafu Architects.

“For Australian skin care brand Aesop, we planned the interior and exterior of the new store on Meiji Street in Shibuya. The store is located on the first floor of a three-storey building situated between two taller buildings; the space is long and slender – 2.6m in width, 7.8m in depth and 3.9m in maximum height. We aimed to work with these proportions to provide a welcoming and intimate space for communication with customers.

The windows on one side wall, which appeared after demolishing of the former store’s interior, were the key for the design. On the wall opposite, we mounted a mirror to enhance scenery, extensity and light. The window located at the front of the store below has brown glass to represent Aesop’s traditional containers, and is incorporated in the shelves. In this way, the window is extended and the shelves are considered as a frame.

In order to limit the variety of the materials used, the shelves and counter are finished in blackened steel, which is also the basis for storage doors assimilated into the mortar wall or mirror wall; the basin that is Aesop’s feature is set near the entrance to effect a good view from the passage.

The door of the entrance and the facade sign are created from glass. The latter is composed of brown glass and corrugated glass, like patchwork – its colour and transparent appearance evoking Aesop’s brand image. A luminous sign on the wall and a selection of plants lend an outdoor atmosphere. As you move further into the interior, the floor texture changes from old wood to sisal carpet, subtly emphasising the transition from the busy street to the quietude of the store.”

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) Special Feature: Brooklyn We Go Hard Pop-up Store in Paris, France.

Fresh off the plane from doing some retail reconnaissance in London this past week, I’m happy to share a blog post with you about a brand I’ve discovered during my trip abroad, BWGH (Brooklyn We Go Hard) at a cool shop called Present in Shoreditch. Brooklyn We Go Hard/BWGH is a parisian label that is attached to emphasizing the works of those who participate to the culture of our time through several actions: the creation of a collective of young photographers, the organization of cultural events and the establishment of a biannual magazine. The extension of those penchants, attractions and desires are incarnated today along the seams of a wardrobe conceived by this duo and their team. Each collection is thought according to discernible and inspiring cultural referents, in outlines or details, and are made to be worn by an open and passionate generation.

Their temporary retail space is located at Cité de la mode et du design/The City of Fashion and Design located at the site of the old general stores quai d’Austerlitz in Paris.

Photos: SuperFuture

*Find out more about my trip to London by checking out the Instagram Photo Journal using this hashtag: #LondonCallingATR

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Johnnie Walker House in Beijing, China.

In China, Johnnie Walker whisky lovers not only get to enjoy the drink, they also get to immerse themselves in the world of Johnnie Walker through a series of interactive and bespoke experiences. The new Johnnie Walker House Beijing – designed by Asylum and LOVE Creative – is the brand’s second embassy, and is also three times the size of the first outfit in Shanghai with a floor area spanning 16,000sqft.

It is located in Ch-ien Men 23 – the former compound of the American Legation during the Qing dynasty that is now an integrated lifestyle development housing various luxury brands. The journey begins outside. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by the brand’s iconic ‘Striding Man’, as well as six copper-clad structures engraved with details of the six Master Blenders in the brand’s legacy.

Inside, Asylum and LOVE Creative have created a contemporary space, one that is not only imbued with rich elements in whisky story telling, Scottish history and culture, but also considers its Asian locale. The embassy is built into the void of the existing structure, which spans three levels, and contains a bar, a museum, a retail outlet and an exclusive members club.

One of the very first experiences guests will encounter is a contemporary re-creation of Johnnie Walker’s original grocery shop in Kilmarnock. Here, essential whisky ingredients such as teas and spices engage the senses, while a replica of the original shop inventory bring visitors back in time to the roots of the brand.

Down in the basement, the Distillery Bar features 10,000 vertically hanging copper pipes that have been cut to varying sizes to form a wave-like ceiling sculpture. From the bar, visitors can also enjoy a dramatic view of an installation spanning three floors, made of tiers of whisky bottles and beautifully lit; sitting atop this structure is a distillery model that peeks into the Blending Floor on level one.

The Blending Floor is where an immersive education in whisky occurs. Here, barley encased in resin form the floor surface – similar to the way barley is laid out to dry in distilleries – and a constellation wall indicating the distilleries across all of Scotland surrounds the blending table to assist with the educational journey through the flavours of the blended whisky.

The Mezzanine houses the Striding Man Bar, which features a ‘smoke’ ceiling inspired by the bold flavours of the liquid; graphics from historical Chinese Johnnie Walker ads have also been cleverly adapted for use on the lampshades and as wallpaper. Adding to the historical archives, the 1910 and Churchill rooms are filled with artefacts from that period along with dated pictures of old Beijing.

Intricate artwork were commissioned for the copper wall leading to the Odyssey Lounge. A members-only whisky vault made out of luggage trunks leads into the Odyssey Lounge, which has a ceiling covered in beautifully lit globes, and a marble and copper compass on floor stating the direction and distance from Cardhu, Scotland to Beijing.

CREDITS:

Interior Designers: Asylum
Location: Beijing, China
Client: Diageo
Year: 2013
Photographs: Diageo

Source: indesignlive

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Third Wave Kiosk in Torquay, Australia.

Central to the design of the Third Wave Kiosk is reverence for its environmental setting; engagement with beach culture; resilience to natural forces and energetic youths; and attention to modest and elegant simplicity. The brief was to design a new public facility at Torquay Surf Beach that contained a new kiosk, toilets and change rooms that would be open year round, service an assortment of recreation users and provide an important beachside destination. Due to the site’s high level of local, regional and international use throughout the year, together with its visual prominence along this section of coastline, the design of the project recognized the need to adequately service community, recreation and tourist requirements whilst sensitively integrating and respecting the local coastal environment and adhering to the Victorian Coastal Strategy.

The building is positioned adjacent to the nexus of pedestrian circulation, between the main car park and beach access path, to guarantee maximum foot traffic; and is visible from the beach and water’s edge as it gently emerges from the primary dune.

In order to engage beach goers, an elevated lookout and alfresco seating area (65m2) has been provided adjacent to the Kiosk which not only overlooks the beach but doubles as an easily identifiable landmark and meeting point. At only 20m2, the compact kiosk kitchen and servery caters for 1-3 staff depending on seasonal demand. A 25m2 service court out the back caters for additional storage, deliveries and a few empty milk crates keenly commandeered during smoko. The height and profile of the building has been designed to respond to the prevailing coastline undulations and windswept vegetation, and uses these natural inflections to inform its final folded appearance. The form therefore takes on a sculptural quality which blends in with the surrounding environment and shrouds the utilitarian function of the working core.

Plan
This is accentuated through its use of coastally identifiable materials and colours by using recycled sheet piles typically used for seawall, bridge and pier construction to be the predominant exoskeleton and expression of the building. These sheet piles have intentionally been left in their original condition to emphasize the reddish brown and yellow oxides of weathered steel and harmonize with the colour of the surrounding cliffs.

This system of construction proved extremely efficient, both structurally and financially, as the sheet piles were used as permanent retaining walls for the alfresco terrace and lookout; provided permanent formwork for the building slab; and extended up as the primary structure and facade of the building. It appears that this is the first building in Australia to utilise the material in such a way, with the added bonus of reducing the projects embodied energy.

With sustainability and re-use integral to the outcome, the recycled sheet piles were procured from the 2010/2011 Victorian floods where they were last used for flood protection works along the Murray River to assist in mitigating the devastating water damage experienced by the local river communities during this extreme rain event.

CREDITS:

Architects: Tony Hobba Architects
Location: Torquay, Australia
Project Team: Michael Lucas, Tony Hobba, Jordan Wright
Client: GORCC (Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee)
Area: 105 sqm
Year: 2012
Cost Planner: Plan Cost
Builder: Philip Jessen
Structural Engineer: Harrington Gumienik & Partners
Hydraulic Engineer: Peter Tibballs & Associates
Electrical Engineer: Dick Twentyman & Associates

*Photography, Rory Gardiner

Source: Arch Daily

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Custore by Anna Dobek and Mateusz Wójcicki.

Custore is an experimental project of a pavilion in a Warsaw shopping centre, Złote Tarasy, that is a combination of a store and an art gallery. Made in plywood, the pavilion’s sculptural form was computer-generated.

The initiators of Custore concept store (‘customise’ + ‘store’) wanted to create a space that would be the combination of a shop and art gallery. The products presented in the store can be found on several touchscreens. These screens also make it possible for the customer to be creative and have an influence on their own furniture.

The key guideline from the client was that the pavilion should provide a partial visual isolation while still being open to the surrounding space. They achieved this by having a relatively open and graphic structure but also using a material that gives an impression of warmness. Inside, the space is quite small and this strengthens the cosy effect.

Source: FRAME

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Gaga Cafe in Shenzhen, China.

With a growing number of young socialites and creative professionals in China, coffee culture is growing in popularity and café chains are popping up on every corner. Within this highly competitive industry, Gaga is a young, fresh, modern and fashion forward brand that distinguishes itself with a great eye for detail. In creating a new design for the deli and eatery in Shenzhen, COORDINATION ASIA took the essence of what has made Gaga a success, and created a one-of-a-kind space that blurs the boundaries between the indoor and the outdoor.

The new space that was created for Gaga uses the existing color scheme of the brand. The atmosphere is warm, natural and cozy. Rustic wood, soft organic textile and green decor create a harmonious environment that is calming and relaxing. The main concept for the new interior, “blurring thresholds”, is amongst others translated in a custom made ceiling installation of lamellas, which looks like a burst of sun rays from deep within the store. The lamellas continue onto the walls to create shelves for merchandises. A large chandelier adorned with pingpong ball sized lightbulbs makes for an iconic feature that customers will be sure to remember. In the evening, the space takes on a lounge atmosphere, with dimmed lighting and soft jazz music. The outdoor floor panels continue into the interior and transition into sleek marble floors.

The soul of Gaga lies for a great part in the food it serves and sells. Putting more emphasis on merchandising, wall shelves spanning the length of the store are filled with products, surrounding the customers in the food culture of Gaga. Customers can find top quality ingredients of which some are used in Gaga’s own kitchen. The specific merchandising concept ‘from our kitchen to yours’ promotes Gaga’s standards for quality ingredients and makes customers feel as if they are inside Gaga’s own private pantry. Gaga’s care for quality is also visible in other details; from individually customized tableware to decorative pieces. No two items are alike, and each item is selected with the greatest care.

A flexible seating scheme was created to enable Gaga to handle high capacity while maintaining a homely and cosy atmosphere. Plush sofa benches line one side of the café, extending all the way to the outdoor space. Floating seats in the middle of the space can be combined in different ways, to cater to parties of different sizes.

Starting from a deep understanding of the brand, the design highlights and secures Gaga’s unique brand image and attitude. Gaga’s consumer will surely feel at home in the new space, and will be surprised to see that Gaga’s attention for detail, care for products and high quality taste has been taken to the next level by COORDINATION ASIA.

CREDITS:

Assignment:
Brand Consulting
Concept Design
Detail Design
Site Supervision

Extent:
290 sqm

Timing:
2013

Team:
Alberto Caiola
Yichen Ke
François Aubret
Hao Chen
Manuela Mappa
Rune Skjøldberg
Yu Yin

Partner:
Rito Communication Group

Client:
Shenzhen GAGA Catering Management Co.Ltd

Photos:
diephotodesigner.de

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Alchemist Concept Store in Miami Beach, Florida.

Founded in December 2007 by Roma and Erika Cohen, Alchemist represents the spirit of the avant-garde focusing on one-of-a-kind artisanal creations. The boutique houses designers such as Haider Ackermann, Ann Demuelemeester, Alaia, Celine, Dries van Noten, Dior, Junya Watanabe, and dozens of other well-edited collections from Paris, Tokyo, New York, London and Los Angeles. In May of 2010 Alchemist opened its space on the fifth level of the award winning concrete parking structure, 1111 Lincoln Road, designed by the Swiss firm Herzog and DeMeuron.

The new Alchemist store, designed by Rene Gonzalez Architect (RGA) and located within the same Lincoln Road parking structure as the original Alchemist boutique, is open to the public. The new concept store, situated on the ground floor, features a constantly changing selection of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle items. Owners Roma and Erika Cohen have conceived of this new store to compliment the original Alchemist, which will become more of a gallery space focused on the work of specific designers.

CREDITS:

Architects: Rene Gonzalez Architect
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Architect In Charge: Rene Gonzalez
Area: 2500.0 sq ft
Photographs: Michael Stavaridis
Associate: Monica Vazquez
Project Director: Kevin Regalado
Mep Engineer: Vidal and Associates
Contractor: Aaron Builders and Development
Lightning: G2J

Source: Arch Daily

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