Rogers, Arkansas, 2005

The single greatest design challenge was to develop a scheme that would overcome the banality and marginal display areas imposed upon the fit-out space by the design theme of the commercial development. The exterior east wall was opened up with butt-glazed glass to allow for transparency and visibility of merchandise from the outside, provide adequate natural light during the day, and the ability to illuminate the store from within at night. A foyer of yellow glass acts as a three dimensional transition from outside to inside and adds another layer of transparency to the storefront. Display walls and elements are sculpted and carved to provide varied articulation of the central interior space and have an independent relationship with the given 'box' shell and its structure. To control visibility and light from the west courtyard and a north corridor, screen walls were used along the interior perimeter. Dark stained oak floors contrast with the custom designed stark white walls, tables, shelves, and display cases; the use of white as a background allows for the spectrum of richly olored merchandise to be foregrounded.