Jimlar showroom

13 May 2009

A potentially awkward space held no fears for design firm Pentagram, brought in to create a sensational show space for footwear maker Jimlar to promote its own brands as well as high-profile brands manufactured under license.

Key facts

PROJECT: Jimlar showroom,
New York
DESIGNER: Pentagram
CLIENT: Jimlar
SIZE: 1,250 sq m
COST: Undisclosed
COMPLETION TIME: 15 weeks

Project description

The new showroom of New York-based footwear company Jimlar, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 56th Street, is not your average shoe store. Lorenzo Apicella, of Pentagram Architects, has created a stunning showroom with seven private-view galleries in the heart of Manhattan’s luxury retail district.

It wasn’t an easy space for Apicella and his team from Pentagram’s New York office to approach. The interior needed to be carefully designed so that the low ceiling and deep footprint didn’t make the space feel cramped.

The showroom and gallery spaces are linked by a large central area whose canted walls and subtly curved island meeting room were inspired by classic shoe designs. This central space, which looks out on Fifth Avenue, has three round, backlit ceiling lights, which make the room feel spacious, while walnut floors, walls in chalk white and dove grey, and furniture from B&B Italia, make the showroom feel brighter.

The central space has been designed to represent the Jimlar brand as well as displaying the collection of footwear. The island meeting room has a large sliding door and a wall of vertical louvres, allowing daylight to penetrate while preserving privacy.

Of the individual galleries, five are dedicated to specific brands. Each has been individually designed to reflect its brand: for example, Calvin Klein is modern and minimal; luxury footwear and handbag designer Coach is carefully crafted with clean lines and luxurious finishes, and all-American label Frye has a gallery surrounded by vintage Americana, including an acoustic guitar and LP records.

The galleries are used as presentation spaces where Jimlar’s sales staff show the latest collections to groups of wholesale buyers, so it’s vital that these spaces feel comfortable and cohesive with the brands they represent.
After more than 50 years in the footwear industry, Jimlar is a company that knows a thing or two about selling shoes, and this diverse and clever design is the perfect place to do it.