Mapos was selected to create the 5,000 square foot Manhattan flagship store for Asics, the Japanese athletic footwear and sporting goods company.
Central to the design was to localize the global brand in New York City. Mapos found an authentic subway car in the California desert and worked with custom fabricators to bring it back to life and showcase Asics’ heritage collection.
At the rear of the store, the Shoe Wall references the canted New York city street grid, as well as an abstracted Asics logo. The size of the Shoe Wall allows Asics for the first time to present their entire shoe collection with full color ways.
Throughout the space, Mapos created lightweight engineered fixtures to reflect Asics’ ongoing foundation on scientific research and technological innovation. Custom perforated steel panels on the walls and ceilings represent the high performance woven textiles used in Asics products.
Ceiling-hung fixtures are mounted on rails. These can be rolled out of the way to open the sales floor at the front of the store for morning stretching and yoga classes and evening product presentations. A branded locker wall at the rear of the store supports out of town runners who need a place to store their gear while the try out Asics products in nearby central park.
Photography by Garrett Rowland.