Marc by Marc Jacobs Store, San Francisco
San Francisco
Stephan Jaklitsch Design

	Index | Project Specs
	Click here for slide show. Photo © Paul Warchol Photography

Plenty of glazing helps the merchandise seem like part of the street life outdoors

Located in a vibrant stretch of San Francisco’s Fillmore Street, the Marc by Marc Jacobs store is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and upscale boutiques. In an urban gesture that has become a signature of Marc Jacobs’ stores, the space is clearly oriented toward the street outside. A broad expanse of glass, framed in aluminum, forms most of the front facade, blurring the line between inside and out; the bright merchandise inside becomes part of the street life and vice versa. Solid portions of the elevation are painted Marc’s signature navy blue—the same color as the floors inside.

Other elements of the facade repeat indoors, too. The architect used the same aluminum for the window frames to define an eight-foot-wide strip of flooring inside the storefront for displays; the strip almost appears like a stage on which the merchandise can perform to full effect. A stainless-steel and glass hanging shelf system lines both walls along the length of the store, enhancing the perception of depth. Two large wood and aluminum display tables, and two 20-foot metal and white enamel cash wraps, create horizontal layers with the central sales floor. These intentionally placed obstacles increase the time it takes to get around: a potent retail strategy. Behind them, a wall of pale blue enamel shelving conceals the fitting rooms. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors line the back wall on either side of the fitting rooms to reflect light and movement back out toward Fillmore Street.

Overall, the space—a former furniture store—projects the feeling of an industrial loft, consistent with Marc Jacobs’ simple retail beginnings on Mercer Street in SoHo. This is underscored by three existing steel columns that are left exposed and painted to match the blue floor, while the existing rough wood ceiling is also painted blue. Concealed lighting, built into steel angles attached to the exposed steel roof beams, illuminates the space.

Formal name of project:
Marc by Marc Jacobs Store, San Francisco

Location:
San Francisco

Gross square footage:
2,000 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$1.2 million

Owner:
Marc Jacobs International

Architect:
Stephan Jaklitsch Design
115 West 27th Street 9th Fl.
New York, NY 10001
212-620-9166 tel.
212-620-9982 fax
www.sjaklitsch.com

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