Snøhetta creates "ephemeral" retail concept lab in New York

Architecture studio Snøhetta has designed an experiential retail space in New York's SoHo neighbourhood that is intended to be an ever-evolving canvas for innovation.

113 Spring occupies a 3,000-square-foot (279-square-metre) space inside a landmarked cast-iron building, and is designed as a retail space, a community hub and a model for sustainable design.

A retail space where products are displayed on modular shelving — 113 Spring includes a retail space where products are displayed on modular shelving

The lab-like concept features a series of spaces that visitors can experience at leisure or intentionally as part of programmed activations.

"Guided by rotating themes that change every three to six months, the space will open with a curation titled Presence is the Present, a thematic prompt focusing on mindfulness and cognition," said Snøhetta.

Bar area with different-height counters — A bar area accommodates curated activations and hosts workshops

All of the interventions made to the historic interior are light-touch, flexible and built using sustainable materials.

Upon entry is a curated gallery that showcases products by emerging brands and innovative studios on a shelving system that's shrouded by a white-scrim curved partition.

Fabric partitions with digital projections behind a seating area — Fabric partitions become canvases for digital projections behind a seating area

The translucency of the material hints at what's behind, aiming to intrigue passersby to wander into the space and explore.

A Maker Bar allows visitors to personalise their purchases or attend interactive workshops, while further back, more bar counters and tables provide spaces for conversation.

Lightbox advertising a curatorial program titled Presence is the Present — The first curatorial program in the space is titled Presence is the Present

"This was a rare invitation to embrace ephemerality and sustainability, employing a minimal footprint philosophy that emphasises adaptability and evolution — a core value of our studio's practice," said Snøhetta director of interior architecture Anne-Rachel Schiffmann.

Opposite, a pair of consultancy rooms are fully drenched in a single colour – yellow in one and orange in the other – while other meeting spaces are also colour coded.

Throughout the building, information and graphics created in partnership with global design studios Modem and Field.io are projected onto the fabric partitions.

These displays are designed to respond to inputs such as guest movement, weather conditions and circadian rhythms. using an operating system for spatial intelligence called SpringOS.

Purple-lit space with a wooden table surrounded by pale green chairs — The interiors are designed to be flexible to accommodate different programming

Along with a small food and beverage program tailored for optimal nutritional benefits, 113 Spring will also benefit from an internal advisory board led by four specialists across a range of disciplines, and oversight from climate-tech and impact reduction company Vaayu.

"Rather than a conventional retail space, 113 Spring reimagines the store not as a place of consumption, but as a site of engagement, education, and transformation designed to evolve with the needs of tomorrow," said Snøhetta.

Completely orange room behind open folding doors — Private rooms for consultations are drenched in a single colour

The firm's seven global studios have completed a wide variety of projects over the past year, from the Dartmouth arts centre extension to a fish-farming facility in Norway.

Its past projects in New York City include the interiors for the Summit One Vanderbilt experience atop KFP's supertall skyscraper and the overhaul of the postmodernist AT&T Building.

The photography is by Hanna Grankvist.

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