KANUK

US Flagship Store

Soho, NYC

 

IES Award of Merit, 2022

 

DESIGN ARCHITECT

Atelier Barda

 

ARCHITECT OF RECORD

Palette Architecture

 

LIGHTING DESIGN

James Clotfelter Lighting Design

 

IMAGE CREDITS

Photography by Eric Petschek

 

 

PROJECT SUMMARY

 

The primary objective for this Canadian coat company’s first international retail store was to create an iconic and memorable retail experience. Working in a highly collaborative manner with the architect, the lighting design sets up four unique sequential conditions between Reception, Showroom, Hall and Fitting Rooms. As visitors move through the sequential spaces, the character of the light (directionality, brilliance, and distribution) shift to enhance the unique qualities of each environment. Extensive photometric studies were conducted with diverse interior finishes and room geometries to affirm desired outcomes.

 

The horizontal illuminance of the Reception area acclimates visitors to the store and contrasts the brightly illuminated Showroom, the feature space with merchandise displays. The domed Showroom ceiling is indirectly illuminated from high-output perimeter coves creating a light-filled, immersive “whiteout” environment that offers a radically different retail experience. In contrast, deep blue drapery lines the Hall, dramatically illuminated with narrow-beam downlights, creating a contrasting visual weight as a transition to the austere Fitting Rooms. Linear coves concealed at each side of the full-height fitting mirrors, the only electric light source, provide uniform, frontal illumination.

 

To establish a consistent white-balance baseline, all light sources are 3000K LED. This is contrasted only by the Showroom at 3500K to enhance separation from adjoining spaces and accentuate the cooler “whiteout” metaphor.

 

A preset dimming system offers programmable scenes for typical day, special events and after hour modes. The modest budget required the use of economical industrial fixtures located in coves and applied in innovative ways to meet practical and experiential interests. Required Lighting Power Density is met, but maximized, placing significant power density in the Showroom to ensure the desired luminance contrast to adjoining spaces.

 

The lighting is seamlessly integrated with the architecture, physically and conceptually, yielding unique and well-choreographed spatial experiences that delivered the architectural aspirations.