LJ Cross

2014 - New York, NY, USA

Architect: Taylor and Miller Architecture

The inherent intimacy of the existing retail space at 994 Madison Avenue means that the experience of LJ Cross store is completely immersive. The space is completely coated in material; the walls in a continuous ribbon of sculpted white corian and the ceiling and floor in a warm and textured Belgian wood. The curved ribbon of corian hovers between the wood floor and ceiling, acting as both sculpture and retail display. To maintain the sense of immersion, the displays themselves are meant to feel as if they are a part of the sculpture of the space. Instead of individual cases or racks, the LJ Cross displays are carved from the corian wall surfaces. On one side, the wall surface is carved outward, creating floating jewelry display cases. On the other side, the wall surface is carved inward creating shelving for the clothing and accessory portions of the LJ Cross line. This positive/negative relationship brings a kind of symmetry and elegance to the ribbon of wall surface, with the retail shopper experiencing the immersive space in between.

The lighting is deployed in two layers. One layer is within the cases themselves, where the lighting systems define the graphic nature of the casework silhouette. Specific products are illuminated with very specific accent lighting, while a linear ambient light source allows the cases feel like discreet volumes of light. The other layer of lighting is constituted by the central 'spine' of pinhole downlights. These serve to subtly illuminate the items on display in the middle of the space as well as the corian wall surfaces.