LMTLS has redefined how SKIN1004’s SoHo flagship engages you with retail by merging it into an immersive, art-like experience. Inspired by nature’s untouched elegance, this architectural landscape integrates sculptural forms and reflective surfaces to blur the lines between a store, a gallery, and an exhibition space.
Inside the 9,900-square-foot location at 470 Broadway, Sean Davidson has captured elements that break free from conventional retail norms. The design narrates the Korean skincare brand’s philosophy of ‘untouched nature’ and ‘brown landscape’ across architecture, light, and material.
Sculptural forms for an immersive sensory experience
The flagship’s centerpiece is the ‘Nature Wall’—a sculptural embodiment of natural valleys and eroded landscapes. This irregular architectural form serves various functions, enabling seamless transitions between seating, product displays, and sales counters.
Photographer Sean Davidson, in collaboration with LMTLS, highlights how sculptural wood surfaces paired with mirrors redefine the elongated and narrow space typical of SoHo locations. An impressive 9-foot mirrored wall spans the store’s length, suggesting greater depth and spatial fluidity akin to walking through a canyon.
Intimate zones that blend space and storytelling
The design weaves through key zones starting with a double-height entry lounge for events and social gatherings. This leads into an intimate retail and consultation space, concluding in a rear experiential chamber—a fusion of LEDs, large-scale mirrors, and a photo booth. An ambient soft glow crafted by warm illuminated surfaces wraps you in an atmosphere reminiscent of natural light.
Wood millwork crafted by Gilbert + Adirondack Studios introduces texture and a sense of continuity. The design’s sculptural and flexible construction evokes the natural world, while the lighting design amplifies the flagship’s atmospheric charm.
Transforming retail into a spatial experience
The flagship, more than just a store, represents a museum-like journey. It’s where architecture and brand storytelling merge into something singularly immersive. LMTLS’s design demonstrates how blending retail with art and nature can create a space where you engage with SKIN1004 on a sensory level.
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For more from LMTLS, check out @lmtls_architecture and for more of Sean Davidson’s photography, see @seandavidson.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com