Located in the heart of New York City's Garment District, Jason Wu's new 9,000 square foot headquarters house the designer's showroom, studio, and administrative offices.

Considering the opposing desires of flexibility and permanence, the space is centered around a linear showroom that spans north to south in order to maximize natural light from the window envelope. It is wrapped in a colonnade of archways, which loosely separate it from the workspace, all the while encouraging collaboration throughout. The subtle arrangement of mirrored arches offer multiple perspectives inside and out, culminating in a play of light and reflection--a jewel-box display case for the collection. From within, adjustable iron racks hang from the exposed concrete ceiling. These can be raised or lowered to adapt to Mr. Wu's latest creations, whether they be a skirt, a dress, or an evening gown.

The horizontal orientation of the space also facilitates flexibility of use, with the capacity to transform into an intimate runway for Mr. Wu's mid-season presentations. In this way, the atelier recalls the grand tradition of twentieth century couture salons as vehicles of both culture and production. The evolving nature of the showroom is the perfect metaphor for Mr. Wu's own designs, which evoke the dynamic coexistence of classic sophistication and playful modernity.

In collaboration with Jesse Carrier

Images © Dean Kaufman 2010