Fresh - Los Angeles
West Hollywood, Calif.
Hacin + Associates

A breath of Fresh air

© John Edward Linden

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

The architect conceived of this compact yet airy store as a modern day apothecary shop to house the full range of products its client offers, including skin care, hair care, cosmetics, scents, and gift items. To achieve the all-encompassing environment of an old-time apothecary, the architect specified floor-to-ceiling cabinetry flanked by display tables. The fixtures are adapted from earlier Fresh stores designed by the same architect, but they incorporate new materials, proportions, and hardware specific to this location.

The store's street level includes the main shopping area and cash wrap, as well as storage space, a small office, and a restroom. Above this level, a mezzanine provides space for personalized spa and skin care treatments, and an area for professional and consumer education on Fresh’s products. The mezzanine, which appears to float above the level below, is a more intimate area with upholstered furniture and wood walls, as well as linear, semi-recessed white and translucent display shelves. To lend a light and ethereal quality to this double-height space, the architect used reflective materials and a language of interlocking horizontal and vertical geometries. The same materials and massing are echoed in the rear of the store, where a two-story light tower visually links the main level to the mezzanine volume.

For the exterior’s design, the architect was inspired by the neighborhood vernacular, a Modern aesthetic of mid-century houses in the surrounding Hollywood hills. The architect also took a cue from the bright light and sharp shadows of the California climate.

Formal name of Project:
Fresh - Los Angeles

Location:
West Hollywood, Calif.

Gross square footage:
870 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$370,000

Owner:
Fresh, Inc.

Architect:
Hacin + Associates, Inc.
522 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
617-426-0077 T
617-426-0645 F
www.hacin.com

Matthew Manke & David Hacin