Following a pattern: Coach store design stacks up

The categorised wooden storage system of Coach’s original 1940s stores was the inspiration for Rem Koolhaas’s OMA. The architect’s practice interpreted the concept with an ultra-modern modular shelving system that will be rolled out to all the brand’s new stores. The shelving design is also featured on the two-storey façade, covering the frosted glass panels with a herringbone pattern, while inside boxy shelves make up the horizontal grid system.

The new store has a bright, modern feel and moves away from the hackneyed idea of dusty, heritage inspiration for luxury brands’ retail spaces. As we explore in our Hyper-Reality design direction, architects are taking inspiration from space stations and science laboratories.