Atelier Barda Turns to Retrofuturism for This SoHo Boutique

When it comes to winterwear, Canadian brand Kanuk knows how it’s done. Since establishing its first boutique in Montreal in 1970, the coat manufacturer’s business shows no signs of slowing, leading the brand to enlist architecture studio Atelier Barda to create its first international store in Manhattan. “Kanuk was born in a time of statements and visions, so we looked back at that era as a starting point for our thought process, for the desired experience,” says Antonio Di Bacco, firm cofounder and principal. “We wanted to create an idiosyncratic spatial experience that looked toward the future, the unknown.”

To do this, the design team opted for a monochromatic white palette, creating a gallerylike interior that enables the brand’s handcrafted coats to command attention alongside custom pieces. Shifts in lighting and room dimensions further shape the overall experience. The reception hall, with its 14-foot-high ceilings, opens into the product showroom through a 7-foot-high portal, creating a mazelike effect as visitors move from one room to the next. “The goal was to force visitors to question their experience, to destabilize routines, to create a glitch in their normal, everyday lives,” adds Kevin Botchar, director and architect. A monolithic desk made of semi-translucent, seafoam green resin transports visitors through time as they wrap up their shopping experience in style.