Aritzia

Aritzia, a Canadian clothing store chain, targets funky, individualistic 16- to 30-year-old women. Though there were already several stores in Vancouver, each with a unique look, the reatiler wanted to create a more uniform design that could be expanded nationally. The owner turned to locally based McKinley Dang Burkart to create a retro-chic design that reflects the eclectic clothing. Designers took cues from the 60s and 70s, using figured woods — rosewood, teak, Australian wood and really differently cut, grained mahogany — and a lot of circle/square motifs in the fixtures. The result is a light, sleek space infused with modern interpretations of vintage elements; the most noteworthy of which are the wood-grained fixtures.

A prominent display wall of internally illuminated, rounded wood fixtures with square cutouts set against a light-green wall houses a variety of clothing and accessories, while also drawing customers'attention to the back of the store. Behind the neutral cashwrap midway through the store, individual square wood panels side-by-side create a large square that continues the vintage feel. The individual panels can also be opened like cupboards to hold employees'belongings or other store “stuff.” And on the perimeter, clothing is arranged by color in bays, with rectangular wood planes floating just above the floor. Vintage collectors'items are housed on wall-mounted wood shelves above the hanging merchandise.

Client: Aritzia, Vancouver — Brian Hill, owner

Design Team: McKinleyDangBurkart Design Group, Calgary, Alb. — Mark Burkart, Walker McKinley and Nam Dang, partners/designers

Suppliers: Acoustical Solutions, Richmond, Va. (flooring, ceiling); La Gullo, Calgary, Alb. (fixturing); McKinleyDangBurkart Design Group, Calgary, Alb. (furniture, graphics); Concepts in Wood, Calgary, Alb. (lighting fixtures); Topmade Signage, Calgary Alb. (signage)

Photography: Robert Lemermeyer, Calgary, Alb. www.eye51.com