Proenza Schouler, a company that designs a high end line of women’s apparel, was founded in 2002 by Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. The firm’s name is derived from the designers’ mothers’ maiden names. The clothing they create is tailored, neutral and well detailed; it is inspired by minimal artists such as Donald Judd. Their new Office + Showroom is located on the top floor of a turn-of-the-century cast iron building in SoHo. The program includes a showroom, sales area, administrative offices, atelier room for the production of samples, production area for pattern making and detailing, design area for clothing and accessories as well as the main design studio; multiple programs are housed in one large space. Inspired by their aesthetic and working within a modest budget, CR Studio chose to use one material - homosote - as a wall material in order to provide a neutral background for the new space. Homosote was used to create walls with minimal ‘construction’; the material was stacked either horizontally or vertically to create different textural effects. The original vaulted ceiling spaces were cleaned and minimally constructed walls were then inserted. The main showroom walls are made of thick homosote roof decking, stacked horizontally to create a dense, simple and textured background for the clothing. Full panels of the material are set vertically as screen elements, providing minimal privacy to the other areas of the program. Phase I of the full showroom and office implementation has been completed and Phase II of the space will begin in the summer of 2009.
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