Salvatore Ferragamo Showroom
New York, New York
The 8,000 sq. ft. American flagship showroom, which opened in September 2001, is located on the fifth floor at 663 Fifth Avenue and was designed with the Salvatore Ferragamo worldwide retail concept. Contrary to the client’s initial direction, Gabellini Sheppard Associates proposed that the Men’s and Women’s Showroom occupy a single floor, allowing the enlarged showroom area to fully wrap a centrally located terrace. This simple but powerful move simultaneously formed a dynamic environment and an unusual amenity for this midtown location. Welcomed by the client, this proposal also generated gracious shared facilities such as the catering pantry and reception area. In contrast to the Ferragamo retail projects completed during the same period, this project presented a unique challenge and opportunity to realize the new design in a space with sleek horizontal proportions and with a program requiring privacy and discretion.
The showroom environment is arranged in a helixwith sales spaces gathered around the 800 squarefoot terrace like pearls on a necklace. This glasslined space creates a transparent and animated color field that effectively acts as a series of misenscenes for the showroom. Intermediate walls of translucent glass panels, floating corian and nickel silver shelving and chain mail divide the showroom into discreet sales areas. Privacy between the showroom areas and reception is accomplished by an enclosure of translucent white sliding glass panels that allow glimpses into the showroom areas and the terrace beyond.
