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Karir Eyewear
By : Drew Mandel Architects
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Commercial Space / Commercial Space 1,600 - 5,400 sq.ft. (150 - 500 sq.m.) : Platinum Winner
Design focused Karir Eyewear has opened a new flagship boutique and Optometry Clinic in downtown Toronto that brings an immersive architectural approach to the interior design brief. The retail experience is framed by pink textured lime plaster walls, evocative of both a Richard Sera sculpture and Stonehenge. These walls dive inside and outside of the mall glazing, seemingly ignoring the confines of a conventional lease space. This pink enclosure dances between providing an alluring object of desire and also an intimate enclosure in which to make a personal purchase. Breaks in the circle and changes in height offer peekaboo views into the space.
The sculptural design takes advantage of a prominent corner space as well as long views from two major downtown city streets (both King Street W and Adelaide St W). The level change between these two streets allowed the design to take advantage of the opportunity and include a sunken planting area for biophilic enhancement of grasses and ferns. Aside from the pink ring, the material palette is largely monochromatic to provide balance from the frenetic visual noise of the mall.
The new home for Karir Eyewear includes an Optometry Clinic and on-site laboratory lens crafting services. As such, the entire space is designed to eliminate shadows and simulate natural light conditions – ideal conditions when shopping for designer glasses. A centrally located ‘interior skylight’ illuminates the main floor from above through a back-lit fabric panel. This false skylight is mirrored on the floor with a matching radius carpet. The custom carpet grounds the retail floor area and playfully references the complex colors of the eye with a custom blend of twelve color rings.
Customer care tables have an even finer detail of craft and have been enhanced with solid white oak wood details, leather and fabric wrapped panels, akin to vintage train carriage booths. As with the rest of the store, the approach to the design harkens back to the quality and care of a past century and builds on 40 years of the brand leading design patronage in the city.
Collaboration
Architect : Drew Mandel Architects
General Contractor : Prisma Construction
Manufacturer - Distributor : Linea P International
Photographer : Doublespace Photography
