snarkitecture: richard chai pop up store

‘richard chai store’ by snarkitecture in new york city image courtesy snarkitecture photographer: lexie moreland

brooklyn-based office snarkitecture  has designed a pop-up store in collaboration with american fashion designer richard chai under the high line in new york city. while seemingly a simple black box from the outside, the interior features a topographical wall treatment constructed out of white foam that transforms the temporary space into an urban glacial cavern. the space is created as part of the building fashion series at HL23, presented by boffo and spilio gianakopoulos. the single material, carved by hand with the aid of a hot wire cutter, is extruded and excavated to create dynamic and seamless display areas for richard chai’s collection. ranging from shelves to hang bars, the unusual interior arrangement calls for a critical curatorial eye for display. the store is open now until the 31 of october, after which the material will be returned to the manufacturer to be recycled into rigid foam insulation. 

image via dave pinter

image courtesy snarkitecture photographer: lexie moreland

images via contemporist

exterior of the shop under the highline image via contemporist

shop interior through the window image via dave pinter

signage outside image courtesy snarkitecture photographer: lexie moreland

sculpting the foam with a hot wire cutter image via contemporist

floor plan image courtesy snarkitecture

cross section image courtesy snarkitecture