Park Place Motorcars

Park Place Motorcars, a Houston-based Mercedes Benz dealership, wanted a showroom of the future. Not the “futuristic” that leaps to mind — steel, glass or shiny chrome everything — but a warm, tranquil environment. Comm Arts of Boulder, Colo., planned, and Looney & Associates, Dallas, designed the large, two-story, curved space that makes the car-buying experience comfortable, personal and exciting. Pilasters that sit atop cherry-wood plinths modulate the showroom. The palette comprises earthy hues such as beige, terra cotta and light neutral tones. Similar-hued porcelain tiles are used on the floor, which is also punctuated with bands of stained bubinga-wood plank flooring. Soft greens and teals in the carpets and fabrics complement the warm hues. The homey space is reinforced by a lounge. A granite bar — stocked with fruit and snacks — is a congregation area for staff and customers alike. The lounge also features a built-in cherry-wood TV cabinet and a bookcase filled with material geared to customer interests. For the business person who can't dodge work long enough to buy a car, semi-private alcoves are equipped with printers, fax machines and computers. If there's going to be any lengthy haggling going on, at least the customer will be extremely comfortable in the meantime.

Design: Looney and Associates, Dallas — Jim Looney, principal; Kim Koch, Michael Lutz and John Nelson, design team Architect: McIntosh Architecture, Dallas — Michael McIntosh, Jr. Client Design: Kenneth Schnitzer, Jr., Dallas Consultants: Craig Roeder & Associates, Dallas (lighting design); Communication Arts, Boulder, Colo. (graphics) Suppliers: Armstrong, Lancaster, Pa. (ceilings); Donghia, New York City, Pollack & Assoc., New York City, Luna Textiles, San Francisco, Paul Brayton Designs, High Point, N.C., and HBF, Hickory, N.C. (fabrics); Fixtures International, Houston, Texas (fixturing); Durkan Commercial Carpet, Dalton, Ga. (flooring); Mike Inc. (Beverly Furniture) Pico Rivera, Calif., Bernhardt Industries, Lenoir, N.C., Loewenstein Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., Vitra Inc., New York City, Allsteel, Muscatine, Iowa, KI, Green Bay, Wis. (furniture); Zumtobel Staff Lighting, Highland, N.Y., Taller Uno, Loos (lighting); Innovations in Wallcoverings, New York City, Blumenthal Inc., Canaan, Conn. (wallcoverings); Tufendian Tibetan Carpets, New York City (rugs); Formica Corp., Cincinnati (laminates); ICI, Memphis, Tenn. (paint); Troy Wesnidge, New Castle, Okla. (tables)