Arteyes

Located in a historic Birmingham, Ala., neighborhood now undergoing a rebirth, Arteyes sought to attract attention to its optical boutique with a contemporary setting that stood out among the traditional English Tudor architecture that surrounds it.

Design firm Erdreich Architecture P.C. (Birmingham, Ala.) created a modernist gallery setting for Arteyes' cutting-edge eyewear and merchandise using the visual effects of light and translucency.

Two storefront glass exposures illuminate the 2700-square-foot boutique, while white walls and a blue-silver rubber floor add a minimalist feel to the gallery-like space.

Backlit translucent plastic ceiling panels and Philippe Starck Ghost chairs play on the sense of lightness, while streamlined wood shelving and lit recessed niches provide a striking display for the more than 1000 pairs of glasses.

Adding to the gallery setting, the owners commissioned an oversized lenticular art piece by local artist Jane Timberlake to infuse a touch of color and draw attention from passersby.

Toward the back of the store, a dark blue waiting room separates the store and the ophthalmology clinic, which includes offices and exam rooms.

Client: Arteyes Optical Boutique, Birmingham, Ala. 8- Stuart Riddle, manager; Barbara Zarzaur, owner

Design: Erdreich Architecture P.C., Birmingham, Ala. – Jeremy Erdreich, president; Doug Shaddix, project manager; Anna Erdreich, interior design; Jeremiah Wade, CAD

Outside Design Consultant: Jackson Renfro & Associates, Birmingham, Ala. (lighting)

Suppliers: AVX, Birmingham, Ala. (audio/video); Southern Woodsmith, Birmingham, Ala. (cabinets); Professional Flooring, Birmingham, Ala. (flooring); Ecco, Birmingham, Ala. (furniture); Weldon Electric Co., Birmingham, Ala. (lighting); Jane Timberlake, Birmingham, Ala., Roger Ellenburg, O2 Ideas, Birmingham, Ala., Pamela Brink, Color Reflections, Orlando (lenticular art)

Photography: Shawn Engler, Birmingham, Ala.