Shigeru Ban Architects completed the new Camper shoe store with the help of New York-based Dean Maltz Architects. The design has a decidedly “Ban” feel to it – particularly the pitched cardboard tube roof, which we thought looked a bit like the Christchurch Cathedral’s, except flattened out a bit. The playful detail certainly helps to differentiate the renovated space from the other flat-topped stores in the area, especially since its idyllic feeling plays nicely against some leftover graffiti on the neighboring wall.
At first glance, it’s difficult to tell that the red-emblazoned space is a shoe store since most of the merchandise is stowed away behind a clever storage wall that we wish we had in our own tiny NY apartments. When entering the shop, all customers see is the Camper logo, but once they reach the center, the wall reveals its secondary purpose. Ban fans might also recognize the seating in the store as his 10 Unit System, made by Artek.
We’re not gonna lie – our hearts skipped a beat momentarily when we saw the greenery-enveloped cashwrap…until we realized that it was faux. Still, it was a nice touch in this simultaneously playful and high-end retail experience.
Photos © Yuka Yoneda
