located in the heart of the cast-iron district of soho in new york, the flagship boutique of 3.1 Phillip Lim is conceived as an intimate space defined by the juxtaposition of existing time-worn materials and modern elements of machined precision, presenting a duality that simultaneously evokes an evidence of the hand and fosters a sense of timelessness.

the entry of the store is defined by a continuous wall of vertically stacked oak flooring. this surface is constructed of alternating tongue and groove rows resulting in rich strata that meters the verticality of the space and guides the visitor into the main showroom.

the mottled patina of an existing end-grain floor meets the taught edge of white plaster walls and a decorative cast-iron railing set against a continuous white laminate glass surface. the wood floor transitions into a stair of exterior concrete pavers, allowing the visitor to descend into the double height volume of the lower showroom. throughout the store, the imperfections of these found materials serve as a coarse backdrop to the sensual play and ephemeral movement within the clothing suspended in the foreground.

by engaging ordinary or overlooked materials, removing them from their given context and re-presenting them in a new extra-ordinary way, we are able to reveal a material essence that challenges preconceptions and allows the visitor to become emotionally invested in the space.

photos: adrian gaut and mitch snyder