shigeru ban: SOHO camper store now open

the SOHO camper store, new york designed by shigeru ban image © sánchez y montoro

the newly opened SOHO camper store in new york city is designed by japanese architect, shigeru ban. located at 110 prince street, the retail space’s main feature is a lenticular wall formed by many vertical cubbies running down the entire length of the shop. from one end, customers view the spanish shoe company’s bold red and white logo, while from the other end, all the merchandise on display is visible. the interior furnishings are made up of ban’s seating design ’10-unit system’, which provides a place for customers to sit and try on shoes.

the existing building has been gutted to make way for a 1200 sf retail space on the ground floor with basement storage. atop the flat roof is shigeru ban’s signature paper tube structure in the form of a triangle. the new gable shape celebrates the company’s first occupied building in new york, thus becoming camper’s ‘house of shoes’.

exterior facade image © sánchez y montoro

when entering the stores does one discovers the shoe display arranged in a 45-degree angle in plan view behind the partition. the slant is echoed on a polished concrete floor with epoxy red stripes and corrugated metal ceiling that is red on one side and white on the other. at the far end of the space is a mirror that allows one to see a reflection of the elements of both shoe display and roof that contrasts the colors from the front.

at the other end of the store is a moss covered cash wrap, with green colored shoe display behind. this hint of color emphasizes a sense of nature and makes reference to the outside world further blurring the distinction between inside and outside. the original non-historic pseudo-traditional facade was altered by removing the existing bulkheads under each window and was replaced with sliding glass door enabling multiple entry points to the store. when the entries are slid open the building becomes completely connected to the street. the feature energizes the SOHO district in a manner similar to the outdoor bazaar.

image © sánchez y montoro

image © shigeru ban architects + dean maltz architect

shigeru ban (124)