A new concept is set to arrive in Wynwood, opening early November. Encased in a work of art by SUPERFLEX, ARCA Wynwood presents a design warehouse with a gallery-like experience designed by Esrawe Studio. Crossing through the colorful exterior art piece, one enters a collection of natural and technological materials and cultural activations.

“We're thrilled to welcome ARCA and proud they chose Wynwood as the place to open their first design warehouse in Miami,” says Albert Garcia, Chairman of the Wynwood BID. “The design of ARCA’s exterior 3-D façade is an innovative and fantastic addition to our world-renowned street art experience.”

Commissioned to imagine the ARCA Wynwood’s façade is Danish artist group, SUPERFLEX, three artists known for blending art, science and activism. Titled “Like A Force of Nature,” the artists use ARCA’s ceramic tiles designed by Hector Esrawe to create an installation that explores the contradiction of the two phenomena of currency and color merging with the naturally recurring Fibonacci mathematic sequence of numbers. Following a color palette inspired by the tones of banknotes, the work of art underlines the overwhelming experience of our current economic systems as natural as volcanos or tsunamis, almost like a force of nature.

“Unlike its colorful façade, the interior is designed as a neutral space to shift the focus onto the material collections,” says Hector Esrawe. “ARCA Wynwood is presented as a museum-grade experience where the materials are showcased as unique works of nature, creating an opportunity for visitors to have an interactive, sensory experience with ARCA’s products.

The concept moves away from traditional retail space and promotes learning, stimulates dialogue and knowledge, and offers an understanding of why and how architecture, design, art, and culture are generated worldwide. This is accomplished with the dual-purpose design of showcasing the materials for experience and ease of purchase.

“We want to provide a space for designers, architects, artists and builders to learn, be inspired, and create,” says Jose Fernandez, CEO of ARCA USA. “ARCA Wynwood offers a new way for customers to select materials by first exploring their nature, origin and potential.”

On the ground floor, guests are greeted by a visual experience. Videos of the quarries ARCA sources for its stone, processes it maintains and other sources of inspiration or creation of materials is projected at reception. In the double-height stone gallery, a curated display of massive slabs of marble sourced from around the world are presented. Each slab on display is available for purchase, where an indoor crane will reach down and help the customer select the exact piece.

The second floor offers a journey through the evolution of materials, from natural wood to manufactured wood, ceramics, tile and porcelain, with a room dedicated to each.

The space invites designers and architects to meet with clients, experience the materials and get inspired for their projects.

Potential buyers are invited to browse the samples and use their mobile phones to scan QR codes for each product to get technical characteristics and uses, blending the physical experience with a digital one.

The space will be lent to various design and cultural events, including exhibitions, lectures and screenings to build a connection with the Miami cultural scene.

Encompassing 13,100 square feet, ARCA Wynwood is located at 260 NW 27th St Street and will serve as the base for the company’s US operations.

Credits
Architecture + Interior Design + Furniture / Esrawe Studio
Creative Direction / Héctor Esrawe
Design Team / Brenda Vázquez, Antonio Chávez
Renders / Yair Ugarte, Emanuel Miramontes

External advisors
Landscaping / .
Construction / Intelligent Construction Inc
Lighting / Luz+Forma

Facade’s Artwork / Like a Force of Nature, a work by SUPERFLEX commissioned by ARCA in col-laboration with Héctor Esrawe

Photography / César Béjar
Façade’s process photos / ARCA Wynwood
Façade tiles' sketches / Héctor Esrawe
Façade tiles' color sketches / SUPERFLEX