Hello and welcome!
This is a project I did during my semester abroad in Rome, Italy. In this hypothetical project, I was commissioned by the fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood to renovate a third of the famous Zarra store located in Rome's shopping district, and make it into a fashion showroom featuring her garments and designs. My intent for this project was to make a large open space that is dramatic and distorted in a way that represents Vivienne Westwood's style, while also creating a neutral enough background that the clothes would still be the focal point of the showroom. On the ground floor I have a waiting area for guests (since admittance to the showroom is by appointment only) and a small conference area where consulting takes place. A private office is located at the back of the showroom next to the delivery door to monitor the activities of the showroom while also being out of the way enough for private deals, meetings, and financial work to take place without interruption or fear of being overheard. I optimized my space by making the whole show room a display area. The second floor is all display space and the basement houses the general storage and bathrooms. The bathrooms were placed her for privacy and also to leave more space open on the upper floors for display. Within the display cases there are custom reflective mobile dividers that are meant to be adjusted according to the piece in the display case. This is to frame the garments more appropriately and reflect to the viewer as many angles of the display piece possible so it does not need to be removed from its case. Finally, although the project is in Rome where ADA laws do not exist, the project still uses ADA accessibility guidelines so everyone can easily access and move about the space.
Second Floor-Floor Plan
Ground Floor-Floor Plan
Basement Floor Plan
My long section featuring a large pyramidal shape that pierces through all floors. This form is a large, elaborate, but elegant casing for the elevator.
Exterior Elevation. There are three large windows I left clear so one can see inside the beautiful showroom space.
This is a close up for the custom desk I designed for the office. The wall to the left in angled like many of the other walls in my space. The work desk is built into the wall and the side desk and bench can be collasped and tucked into the wall if the space is not needed.
Short section of the private office space.
The long section of the office. Custom file cabinets are to the left with selves that get smaller in wdith as they ascend up to mimick the angled wall adjacest to it.
Ground floor perspective from the entrance.
Perspective from the back of the showroom on the ground floor.
Mirrored glass is installed on the wall behind all of the display cases so a viewer can see the back of a garment or accessory without it having to be removed from its protective case.
Office perspective.
Perspective from the back of the showroom on the second floor.
I used black and white as my neutral colors and a light colored wood to reflect sun light into the space. I use red and gold to represent Vivienne Westwood's "Red" and "Gold" collections. Wrought iron is used for the staircase and balcony rails.
