Roth Showroom, Richmond Heights, MO
St. Louis just received a beautiful update on one of Clayton Road’s classic red brick buildings, originally built in the 1930s. Roth Living, a nationwide company with 35 U.S. showrooms, recently finished its new official Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove showroom. The deconstruction of the tired structure refreshes the already beautiful and historic design; architects from Arch 11 decided to keep the new showroom true to St. Louis’s architectural roots by preserving the brick facade while updating the structure with modern zinc-clad steel. This nod to conserving traditional aesthetic can be found in the showrooms themselves through a forward-thinking approach to design mixed with the updated architecture. After passing the sleek front desk, customers travel into a world of modern kitchen inspiration with minimal design and well-used space. The striking appliances from Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove mix naturally with the cabinetry of Wm Ohs, Downsview and Gegg Design. The showroom strives to make each customer’s experience both pain-free and interesting; product experts from Roth offer guided tours of the showroom to help streamline the shopping experience. Perhaps the most signature piece to this showroom are the digital concepts set in high-design vignettes. These 9x16-inch digital concepts are meant to encourage customers to explore new designs and possibilities and leave with a picture and product details to make their concepts a reality.
Flos Scandinavia Showroom, Copenhagen, Denmark
Situated proudly on one of Copenhagen’s old industrial docks, the FLOS Showroom not only allows signature products to shine, but the historic architecture of the building, as well. FLOS, a lighting company founded in Italy, took advantage of the open spaces and antique feel of an old tractor repair workshop to highlight the modern feel of their top-of-the-line fixtures. OEO Studio worked with FLOS to make the space an international showroom statement. OEO Studio decided to use the products to illuminate the monolithic architecture of the existing structure; this contrast between old and new brings a sense of curiosity to the showroom while drawing attention to what the products can achieve in highly architectural spaces. The beauty of the showroom comes in its details, such as book shelving units used as a modern and playful display system. The room’s most striking display is a lustrous white staircase to draw visitor’s attention to separate zones of the building while providing an engaging setting for the fixtures. It was important to FLOS and OEO Studio to stay true to the building’s Scandinavian history. They added the Cover House, a home lighting display made of brick, from Petersen Tegl, a Danish brickworker. The inspiration for the showroom, OEO Studio says, was not only the structure and history of the old building, but the way natural and artificial light worked together in the space. Hopefully visitors will understand the possibilities they can achieve with their lighting decisions after seeing this inspiring new showroom.
Knoll Showroom, Houston, TX
Knoll Incorporated is an American manufacturer of products for homes, offices and higher-education settings. Their new showroom and offices in Houston, Texas, are located on the ninth floor and roof terrace to give the space a gorgeous view of downtown. This 8,000-square-foot project led by ARO was designed to marry functionality and displays. The showroom contains open office areas of all sizes to show off the company’s office furniture and brand textiles. Though this showroom was designed to mirror those built in New York City and San Francisco, this location holds designs chosen for the Texas locale. One example is the sculptured brass rail that leads a customer through the changing selections they offer. Knoll’s products are actually used in the showroom as architectural pieces. A white textile made by Knoll covers the vaulted ceiling panels in entry area and main conference room, providing an acoustic cushion so the open showroom never gets too noisy. This bright white set next to a backdrop of custom leather on select walls provides an interesting and natural contrast as one strolls through the showroom. The floors are a stunning white terrazzo with brass dividers and the occasional brass Knoll logo. The showroom holds true to the brand’s colors as custom blue perforated leather door pulls cover brass doorknobs, tying into the color palette and adding an interesting and eye-catching detail to the already captivating space.
