Barneys New York Expands in Chicago
The new six-story building by Gensler, with interiors by Jeffrey Hutchison & Associates, will open its doors on April 16.
Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 4/9/2009 12:00:00 AM
A rendering of the Barneys exterior
Another gust of high fashion is about to blow through the Windy City as a massive new Barneys New York emporium prepares to open its doors on April 16.
The 91,500-square-foot store will occupy a new six-story building by Gensler on the corner of Oak and Rush streets in Chicago's fashion district, replacing the retailer’s existing 45,000-square-foot unit located directly across the street. The exterior boasts a façade of Indiana limestone, bronze-framed windows, and a five-story curved glass curtain wall.
A rendering of the Barneys interior ceiling
Retail architects Jeffrey Hutchison & Associates, the firm behind spaces for Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Theory, and Façonnable, quarterbacked the store's interiors, including its piece de resistance: a three-level, glass-and-limestone sculptural staircase that’s visible to passersby on the corner of Oak and Rush through the glass curtain wall. Originating on the second floor, the staircase terminates on the fifth level with a surreal blackened steel canopy.
In between, JHA utilized a palette of rich materials. The 1,400-square-foot personal shopping area on the third floor comes replete with cerused teak and silver leaf plaster. The fourth-floor men's designer clothing and sportswear boutique features a roughly hewn end-grain wood floor complemented by white lacquer, bronze, oak and mahogany elements. One floor up, men perusing suits will be greeted by a clubby vibe of white wenge walls, bronze metal accents and teak floors.
Each floor enjoys abundant natural light provided by large floor-to-ceiling windows, softened by decorative scrims designed in collaboration with artist John Paul Philippe. Terraces on the fifth and sixth floor promise views of Lake Michigan for diners at Barneys in-house restaurant, Fred's.
"Chicago is a great fashion city and has been an excellent partner for Barneys over the years," says Jeffrey Hutchison. "This building reflects the taste and luxury of Chicago, while staying true to the elegance that is synonymous with Barneys."
Above: An exterior snapshot of the newly completed Barneys New York in Chicago.
Images courtesy of Jeffrey Hutchinson & Associates.
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