Heatherwick Studio

Longchamp, New York

Annie Block -- Interior Design, 12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Three years ago, after this French acessories maker invited Thomas Heatherwick to design a handbag, his cleverly expanding Zip tote became a best seller. Equally innovative is his 9,400-square-foot duplex boutique for the company—the first stateside project for a British sensation who describes himself simply as a "three-dimensional designer." Ribbons of 1/4-inch hot-rolled steel, 55 tons of it, are sheathed in sienna-red rubber to form stairs, landings, and an adjacent wall; the balustrades are laminated glass, warped via aeronautic windscreen technology. On the second floor, the plywood ceiling peels down to form display shelves.

Merit

Into, Singapore

DESIGN 212box.

STANDOUT The shop's skin of recycled aluminum is sandblasted with outlines of political figures, weapons, and sex acts.

Bizarre, Omaha

DESIGN Randy Brown Architects.

STANDOUT White-painted gypsum-board combines with clear glass shelving to create a floating sensation.

Quiksilver, Huntington Beach, California

DESIGN Clive Wilkinson Architects.

STANDOUT Birch-plywood bands undulate through the space, becoming part of the wall displays.