More noteworthy projects that earned first place honors
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By Lauren Mang
Petit Bateau, Paris
First Place (tie), Specialty Store, Sales Area under 10,000 sq. ft.
Before The specialty apparel retailer has been creating undergarments since 1893. It pioneered easier-fitting baby clothes with the introduction of cutaway shoulders and, in 1980, launched the baby bodysuit, more commonly known as the “onesie.” Petit Bateau is still selling its signature products and has also branched out to more clothing, but it wanted to archive its past identity in favor of a new store design that would resonate with both children and adults.
During Much of this brand’s character is inspired by the sea. The name means “little boat” in French (a phrase from a song the founder’s son often sang) and variations of its blue sailboat logo have anchored the company’s identity since the 1920s. Paris design firm Saguez and Partners paired this nautical history with elements drawn from its work with cotton for a space that resembles a luxury beachside apartment.
After Within the seaside dwelling, designers fashioned a series of rooms, each with its own colors and furnishings – a lavender-shaded baby area with a clawfoot bathtub, a kitchen saturated in violet for adult apparel. And don’t forget the cotton: Spools of brightly colored thread rest on white furniture and appear painted on a wall. Judges chose this project for its simple and clean look. “It’s nice to see a children-oriented boutique executed so well,” says Macy’s Kelly.
Client: Petit Bateau Co., Paris -- Daniel Contorni, designer
Design/Architect: Saguez and Partners, Saint-Ouen, France -- Valerie Parenty, consulting director; Aurelie Alexandre, project manager; Bernard Astor, architect
Photography: Olivier Seignette, Nichaël Lafontan, Paris
Parasuco, Montreal
First Place, Specialty Store, Sales Area over 10,000 sq. ft.
Before The original incarnation of this cutting-edge Canadian apparel brand had a cluttered, single-story layout with an urban-industrial feel. Its exposed ceiling ducts and chaotic lighting didn’t mesh with the retailer’s sleek, fashion-forward image – especially with a North American expansion in the works and new men’s and women’s collections ready for the sales floor. Ruscio Studio Inc. (Montreal) began transforming this Crescent Street flagship into a two-story, 12,000-square-foot streamlined space.
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