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, a linear void is used to span north-south, acting as a showroom which organizes all subsequent elements of the office. It is wrapped in a colonnade of openings, loosely separating it from the workspace, all the while encouraging collaboration throughout. The subtle arrangement of mirrored frames offer multiple perspectives inside and out, resulting 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 Wu's growing archives, 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 Wu's mid-season presentations. In this way, the atelier recalls the grand tradition of twentieth century couture salons, having served as vehicles of both culture and production.

Images © Dean Kaufman 2010