Lane Crawford

Pacific Place
Hong Kong
First place Full Line or Specialty Department Store

Luxury Chinese retailer Lane Crawford, which was founded more than 150 years ago, has undertaken an ambitious modernization program in recent years. A prominent example of that effort is on display at its Pacific Place store in Hong Kong, where the specialty store chain enlisted Canadian design firm Yabu Pushelberg (Toronto) to create a cutting-edge space that would engage younger shoppers.

“The vision for the Pacific Place store was to create a high-tech, interactive, modern, casual and democratic space with a greater emphasis on contemporary and casual wear, along with premium denim,” says president David Riddiford.

Interactive and visual elements installed in the space include: the central cashwrap, a long, sculptured counter where customers can check e-mail at one of several laptops; translucent glass screens near the contemporary fashion department that are activated when shoppers pass by, revealing video art created by local students; a home furnishings department where cascading white packing ribbon creates a 3-D display for the merchandise; and a conveyor belt in the men's athletic footwear department that carries the latest in designer trainers – as well as new toys from Japan.

The ambitious upgrade – which involved relocating and adjusting the size of existing merchandise categories, as well as creating space for several new lines, including CDs, men's grooming and high-end gadgets such as Leica cameras and robots – took a total of nine months, including a four-month shutdown.

Client: Lane Crawford , Hong Kong
David Riddiford, president
Robert Champagne, director, architecture and design department
Yoon Choi, team leader
Winnie Chan, project assistant
Leo Yau, project assistant
Patrick Tang, project assistant
Flora Lai, project assistant
Simon Chan, project assistant
Monica Blanch, communications director

Design: Yabu Pushelberg, Toronto
George Yabu, partner
Glenn Pushelberg, partner
Mary Mark, design team leader
Reggie Andrade, technical team leader
Marlyn McDonald, project manager

Architect: PSI, Hong Kong

General Contractor: Fuji (China) Decoration and Engineering Co. Ltd., Hong Kong

Outside Consultants: Isometrix, London (lighting)
RFR, Paris (engineering)
Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd., Kowloon Tong (engineering)

Photography: Nacása & Partners Inc., Tokyo