As its name implies, Vizio Eyewear & Photogallery has a bifocal purpose, functioning as both an eyewear boutique and an art gallery exhibiting fine photography. The dual personalities were combined, says owner Laurent Felix, to create a heightened awareness of viewing the world through a lens, either through eyewear or a camera. With that concept in mind, Johnson Chou Design (Toronto) chose materials and forms that emphasize the boutique's multi-use nature and the mechanics of eyewear. The long, narrow space is divided lengthwise by a gallery bench placed in front of featured photography. Behind it, custom wood-and-metal service tables slide along an overhead track. Eyewear is displayed along a curved wall with a single row of brightly lit, glassed-in recessed slots that open at the touch of a finger. Visible from outside the store, the wall also functions as a signboard for Vizio, beckoning customers in to share its unique vision.
Client Team: Vizio Eyewear & Photogallery, Toronto — Laurent Felix, owner Design Team: Johnson Chou Design, Toronto — Johnson Chou, Michael Lam and Jennifer Harris, design team General Contractor: Chiltern Contracting, Toronto Suppliers: J. Apkarian Machining, Toronto (fixturing); Chiltern Contracting, Toronto (ceilings and flooring); Nienkamper, Toronto (fabric); Johnson Chou Design, Toronto (graphics); Studio Luce, Toronto (lighting); Arrow Graphics, Toronto (signage)