Eclectic Eye - Midtown
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Architecture
Interior Design
Programming
Signage Design -
Adaptive Reuse
Enhanced Site Accessibility
Heat Island Effect Mitigation
Low Maintenance Materials
Reclaimed Building Materials -
Completed July 2006
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Memphis, Tennessee
The full-service optometry clinic and upscale optical boutique displays simple materials and translucent finishes to create a relaxed, customer-friendly atmosphere.
The boutique is located in a mid-century neighborhood shopping center in the vibrant Cooper Young District. The design provides an enjoyable and distinctive alternative to the conventional corporate optical model. The client wanted to generate the same level of curiosity and consideration through the architecture as their thoughtfully curated collection of unusual handmade and luxury eyewear representing a global family of independent designers.
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The materials and finishes are simple and unpolluted, creating a refined appearance which amplifies the colors and shapes of the frames on display. The space is airy and open with materials such as birch plywood and exposed metal studs creating a sense of scale larger than its actual 1400 sf. Subtle milk white laminate, paint, and glass edge-green translucent panels add to the space’s open, relaxed environment. Materials and lighting were chosen based on equal consideration of cost and aesthetic value to maintain the client’s tight budget.
The program includes five zones: reception, sales, pre-testing, testing, and contact lenses. Each reads as a piece within the overall space. The pieces are linear, as is their useable space, and positioned to promote a circuitous motion through the space. A central customer service core is made up of the display case, pre-test desk, sales / reception desk, and testing area. This separates the space into two sides and further promotes circular progression. On either side, visually dynamic display cases are incorporated into the walls as a means to minimize used floor space, create visually recognizable sales zones, and to open the space’s narrow perception. Translucent panels define the testing area creating a sense of privacy yet not enclosed.