COMMERCIAL

Designing a creative studio space for such an unparalleled, design-forward brand such as Arc’teryx was a practice in expressionism and restraint. A company well-known for its reverence for risk-taking, we sought out to design a space that places the act of design center stage, and facilitates order within chaos. By observing their iterative process and drawing cues from their iconic brand photography, the concept of set and context came about; highly functional collaboration areas are elevated, such as the central product showcase space, which was formed as a panoramic pin-up space for showcasing past, present, and future during their product design process.

Much like their wares, the palette is refined and timeless, yet never without an edge. Special attention to craft details, nods to constructability, and a mixture of utilitarianism and elegance were all motifs in consideration while selecting furniture, lighting, and materials. Custom retail fixtures to showcase products and encourage long-term versatility are concealed within a subdued backdrop of ash panels; creative clutter stowed behind PET felt cabinets.

Ultimately, as is true of Arc’teryx’s product and brand story: function IS elegant, and nothing is superfluous.

Completed while at Skylab Architecture