MR COLLABORATED WITH FRENCH CREATIVE PIERRE HARDY ON THE DESIGN OF HIS EPONYMOUS SHOE BRAND’S FIRST BOUTIQUE IN NEW YORK. THE SITE CHOSEN WAS A HISTORIC CARRIAGE HOUSE IN THE LANDMARKED WEST VILLAGE. THE CONCEPT WAS TO CREATE A DRAMATIC MINIMALIST ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE EXISTING SHELL OF THE GROUND FLOOR. A BLACK GARAGE DOOR WITH THE COMPANY’S BLOCK LETTER LOGO EMBLAZONED ON IT IN WHITE TO MATCH THE PAINTED BRICK FAÇADE, SERVED—WHEN OPEN—AS THE MAIN ENTRY. WITH APPROVAL BY THE LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION, A NARROW DOOR TO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE WAS TURNED INTO A WINDOW. JUST BEYOND THE GARAGE IS AN ENTRY SPACE WITH A DARK-TINTED CONCRETE FLOOR. A GLASS WALL AND DOOR SEPARATE THE ENTRY FROM THE NEXT SECTION OF THE 1200 SQUARE FOOT SPACE.

THE MAIN SALES FLOOR IS DIMLY LIT WITH TRACK LIGHTING AND THE PALETTE IS DARK. THE ORIGINAL BRICK AND CINDER BLOCK WALLS WERE PAINTED CHARCOAL GRAY. AT THE BACK OF THE STORE, PANELS OF BRONZE-TINTED GLASS WERE INSTALLED 15 INCHES IN FRONT OF THE WALLS, BRINGING A WARMTH TO THE SPACE. DEPENDING ON THE LIGHT BEHIND, THE CINDER BLOCK IS VISIBLE THROUGH, OR THE GLASS APPEARS AS A MIRROR. THROUGHOUT THE STORE, THE FLOORING IS BLACK, BUT MATERIALS SHIFT, TO ALLOW SHOPPERS TO TRY ON SHOES ON VARIOUS SURFACES. FOLLOWING THE ENTRY, IT TRANSITIONS TO EBONIZED WHITE OAK, AND IN THE REAR OF THE STORE, IT IS STAINED AND WAXED LEATHER. AT THE BACK OF THE STORE, A FREESTANDING X-SHAPED GLASS STRUCTURE CREATES FOUR SEMI-PRIVATE QUADRANTS IN WHICH SHOPPERS CAN SIT TO TRY ON SHOES. STEEL I-BEAMS WERE USED AS BENCHES, AND CUSHIONS UPHOLSTERED IN SILK VELVET WERE FABRICATED WITH MAGNETIC INSERTS TO PREVENT SLIDING.

PHOTOS: ERIC LAIGNEL