Bespoke Hosting
MensWear FashionShow
520 S Mill Ave. Tempe AZ This project is a Prada menswear store located on Mill Avenue in the historic Tempe Hardware Building. Mill Avenue is an unusual home for a luxury brand like Prada since customers in this area are mostly ASU students. In addition, there is a Prada store in Scottsdale only five miles away from the site. Our strategy is to design a bespoke menswear Prada which can attract interest from out of town visitors, and also host art and fashion shows for all to enjoy.
Prada is a brilliant, creative, artistic, and humble brandthey exhibit an extensive art collection in galleries around the world; they have branched into film, to critical acclaim; they successfully introduced Nylon as a viable material into the fashion world. We created a specialized gallery space for Prada “ because fashion will never stand confidentially without art.” A humble gallery space with a subtle, tailored asymmetry is the best way to respect the historical building and Prada. Stiching, hardware, zippers, and leather... the essentials of Prada fashion. We transferred those essentials into functional and aesthetic interior design elements- shelving, display cases, handrails, etc.- to create a finely detailed design as if created by Prada itself
Old - New The original brick is more rough and textured than the tailored Prada aesthetic. By incorporating an interior façade of smart glass panels, the old building is celebrated and framed, revealing the beauty of the original brick while feeling more smooth and polished. The smart glass also allows Prada to display video and motion work during fashion shows. The f lat head brass brackets anchor to the old wall to hold the new together.
The prominent entry stair allows for product display and circulation. The steps also serve as raked seating, hosting the occasional visitor and larger fashion show audience.
Flat head brass glass bracket design for glass wall in Prada store. The bracket design derives from the hardware feet of prada bags and celebrates the hardware building history.
Coved lighting integrated into the handrail, steps and elevation changes accommodate way finding and illumination needs while maintaining a clean visual aesthetic.
Furniture Design Showroom Display block, coffee table, brass clothing hanger, and glass brackets are all inspired by Prada fashion techniques and gallery aesthetics.
Lighting Design Recessed lighting is derived from the threads and stitching of Prada products. Integrated C-channels house strip fixtures and allow light to articulate interior walls. The marble wall tile installation mimics the thin threads on Prada bag linings.
Elevation
Section The interior walls are held off the floor with reveals and integrated cove lighting, which washes the recycled leather f loor. The resulting light functions as way finding.
First Floor Floor Plan
View from the back entrance High end clients can park directly behind the building and be received in a semi-private lobby.
Products Display Area
Mezzanine The catwalk wraps the perimeter of the two story space, framing the view from the entry stair, and during events and fashion shows, directing models past the front windows extending Prada to viewers on Mill Avenue.
Second Floor Floor Plan
INT 362: Fall 2015 Interior Design Studio III: Retail
Students: Jixun Wen, Bijun Xu Instructor: Bernardi, Smith