Pucci
New York City
Vudafieri Studio

Subtle space has a touch of color

© Santi Caleca

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

The Fifth Avenue boutique is the first location to showcase a new retail concept that Pucci developed in collaboration with the project architect. Pucci wanted a space that would showcase its brand--known for colorful prints with swirling patterns--but not overwhelm visitors. Accordingly, the finishes, furniture, and fixtures in the Fifth Avenue boutique have an evanescent quality that allows them to disappear, allowing customers to focus on Pucci’s clothing and accessories.

Customers may enter the boutique through the main entrance facing Fifth Avenue, or through the rear entrance, which opens onto the lobby of the upscale Hotel St. Regis. The side walls of this narrow retail space are fronted by false walls, made of stiff fabric embedded with colored neon lighting tubes. The shelving units consist of thin cables that hang from the ceiling that suspend Plexiglas slats. On one side of the shop, a large multi-colored Plexiglas unit provides additional display space in recessed shelves and cubbies.

Through subtle use of color, the architect strived to create an atmosphere that cleverly avoids the museum-like, plain white box quality common in many high-end boutiques. The floor of the Fifth Avenue shop is comprised of a composite quartzite stone in a shade of lilac custom-formulated for Pucci by the supplier. This color is echoed in the furniture and fixtures, most of which are made of Plexiglas or highly lacquered composite materials. Photographs mounted throughout the store depict people wearing Pucci clothing throughout the brand’s history.

Formal name of Project:
Pucci

Location:
New York City

Owner:
Pucci
Palazzo Pucci
Via de Pucci 6
Florence

Catherine Vautrin, President

Design Architect:
Vudafieri Studio
V.le Lombardia 66
Milano 20131, Italy
011 39 02 2611 3990
011 39 02 2611 8757
vudapartners.com

Executive Architect
McKay Architecture and Design PLLC
41 Union Square
Suite 931
New York NY 10003
212 691 4559 (p)
212 691 2503 (f)
www.mckay-architects.com