Dezeen Magazine

Snarkitecture suspends 700 Air Jordan replicas in Kith's Brooklyn store

New York studio Snarkitecture has designed a Brooklyn store for menswear brand Kith, including a cereal bar and an installation made from 700 replica Nike Air Jordan II sneakers (+ slideshow).

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

Snarkitecture created a series of custom installations for the shop on Flatbush Avenue, the firm's second store design for Kith, which specialises in street-style clothing.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

The main feature of the interior is a suspended installation of 700 white cast-replica trainers. The sneakers are identical copies of the Air Jordan II, the second shoe designed for basketballer Michael Jordan by Nike in 1986.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

Hung from the ceiling on solid metal rods that are coated white to match the shoes, the installation stretches in a wide band down the length of the space.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

"Overhead is the main focal point of the store," said Snarkitecture. "The arrangement of the shoes creates a forced-perspective when one stands at either end of the store."

A cereal bar called Kith Treats has been created in an alcove to one side of the store's glazed entrance area, with walls covered in white subway-style tiles that are continued through to the main space.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

The serving counter is made from marble, matching the herringbone flooring used throughout the shop.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

The bar stocks more than 24 different types of cereal, with the food served in specially-designed containers that look like shoe boxes. It also sells cereal-flavoured ice cream. The bar is run by Kith founder Ronnie Fieg.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

Beyond this, banks of floor-to-ceiling stainless steel and glass trainer displays line a corridor that runs down the middle of the clothing store.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

Snarkitecture installed an infinity mirror behind the cash desk, which seems to make a neon light in the form of the company's logo appear repetitively.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

Clothes are displayed to either side on stainless steel rails, while books and accessories are presented on black glossy shelving units.

A rotating exhibition space named The Archive also occupies the front area of the shop. It will initially feature selections from Fieg's personal sneaker collection.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

"The Archive's flexible design allows for visiting brands to takeover the space and showcase products in the glass and stainless steel niches," said the designers.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

Snarkitecture founders Daniel Arsham and Alex Mustonen previously designed Kith's first retail space in Manhattan, which opened in 2011.

More recently, Snarkitecture used steel sheets with garment-shaped cutaways to create a pop-up shop in LA for European fashion brand COS.

Kith flagship by Snarkitecture

The Brooklyn-based studio also transformed the grand hall of the National Building Museum in Washington DC into an all-white "beach" by filling it with a sea of translucent balls and a shoreline dotted with lounge chairs and umbrellas.