VERDEGO
has designed the first ASICS stand-alone store in the U.S. for its
technologically advanced shoes and clothing line. The store is strategically
located across from Bryant Park in New York City and is a vibrant center for
the running community with the New York Marathon as one of the biggest races it
serves. ASICS, a
Japanese company, wanted a sleek, stand out design for the intimate 1100 square
foot space. VERDEGO’s response was a clean, sharp and minimalistic design
that spoke to the companies’ brand and aesthetic. VERDEGO took its cue from the brand – reflecting
the branding intense blue color. The designers used the same deep penetrating
blue of the logo on the sculptural wall that adorns the main wall of the store
that is visible from the storefront. The surface is a custom
designed brilliant blue wallpaper imported from Japan. On
the other side of the wall is the Foot ID room where a 3D scanning machine and
treadmill delivers a state of the art foot ID system analyzing a customer’s
personal running style. The machines gather information about a customer’s
foot, stride and gait to get a fit that delivers maximize performance. To
highlight the room’s specialized technology, a 3-D topography of a foot was
used as the interior wallpaper. Lots of open space, white and transparent glass
walls and natural light give the small store a porous quality with high
visibility to the street. The fixturing throughout the store is based on
singular aluminum tubing that allows for display on 3 sides set into anamorphic
forms and frames that highlight the merchandise and minimize the visibility of
the support. The entire space moves in rhythm to the contours of the human body.