Designed by New York-based design office Leong Leong in collaboration with German fashion designer Siki Im, the new Siki Im concept store is part of an installation at Building Fashion at HL23 in New York City.
Made from a simple shipping container, the store seeks to radically transform the existing space and breakdown the traditional norms of retail and exchange. The store, which features a ramp-like sloping floor, is built around an existing structure that was formerly used as the sales office for the HL23 apartment building.
The structure is filled end to end with large ramp-form that creates an unexpected gathering space with undefined programmatic possibilities. Soy-based spray foam has been used to cover the interior and exterior of the structure creating a supple surface for inhabitation on which visitors are required to remove their shoes.
Small niches and ledges are carved into the foam to create areas for display and seating. The clothes are embedded beneath the ramp on either end, encouraging visitors to explore the extents of the space and experience the clothes in intimate environments. Leong Leong has also integrated ‘green’ elements into the store by using eco-friendly materials.
Building Fashion pairs fashion designers with architects in an installation series exploring the intersection of architecture and fashion through integrated store and exhibition design.
