Pearl River Lab, Tribeca, NYC

A (POP-UP) friendship Store

Location: 395 Broadway, New York City

Completion: 2016  Project Size: 10,000 SF

Project Type: Branded Environment, Pop-up store, Department Store Specializing in Chinese Products and an Art Incubator

Client: Perl River Mart

The Pop-up store features one big idea for displaying the Pearl River Mart's products. Instead of displaying the Pearl River products on many fixtures, the products are displayed on a large scale unit made of scaffolding, which takes the shape of a boat. We call it the Dragon Boat because of the ceremonial Dragon and the Chinese Lantern display that is hung above; the dragon insures success and the red lanterns, prosperity. The lanterns mirror the shape of the boat below and re-imagine traditional Chinese festivities. 

THE PEARL RIVER STORY & THE COLLABORATION WITH TRA STUDIO

Pearl River Mart started almost fifty years ago, when the relationships between the US and China, were non-existent, it was since the beginning a symbol of friendship between the two countries, an attitude which, during the years, evolved into a beloved neighborhood Institution. The store operated warehouse style for decades until Mr. Chen understood that he needed to define the brand. The educational aspiration of the brand identifies with a yearning for traditional values, authenticity, and stability and a desire to be part of and serve the Community.

The evolution of the PRM brand is the story of a collaboration that evolved over fifteen years, between the client, Pearl River Mart and the architect, TRA studio. The location of the PRM stores always responded to the Pearl’s tradition to consciously select architecturally interesting spaces in significant locations, making them available for use by the neighborhood. The store design functions as an extension of the public space.

The spaces we created together, two in SoHo, one in Tribeca and the most recent in Chelsea, are part of the Collective experience: most people who live or even just visited downtown NYC have a positive memory of one of the PRM stores, past or present, they are part of the collective memory and of the Collective well-being and inclusivity:

The two original SoHo stores, which occupied collectively 300000quare feet, spanned an entire block, during which he weekends the selling space functioned Intentionally as an interior street, they incorporated some of the wellness support spaces that are now an essential aspect of experiential retail: a quiet tea-room for workshops, iconic photo opportunities, meeting and performing places and even, included ample public restrooms.

The Tribeca Pop-up store, continued the Pearl tradition of reaching out to the Community, through the inclusion of an active Art Gallery, a spiritual wellness oasis, described in their blog, “a tribute to those who build bridges, understanding and joy”.

Finally the more recent store we designed in Chelsea, The Chelsea location continues Pearl’s tradition to a fresh storytelling approach to an old story, informs the design and celebrates the heritage and equity of the Institution, while remaining conscious of keeping the familiar connection with the old customers.

All the stores where designed with 100% RESILIENT recycled or recyclable materials, the demountable custom designed featuring system has been used over and over in the stores and still looks great today proving that RESILIENCY of good design is timeless and lasts, both literally and figuratively