Excerpt: Blu Dot Showroom by Waechter Architecture is an interior design project for a furniture firm which was constructed inside a historic warehouse and intended to maintain the character of the original structure while presenting a freshly created intervention in the form of a showroom environment. The intervention, which was envisioned as a handmade object incorporated into the structure, is located separate from the current structural framework.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] This Blu Dot furniture firm showroom in Portland’s Pearl District showcases the personality and calibre of the brand. The 7,300-square-foot project, which was constructed inside a historic warehouse, was intended to maintain the character of the original industrial structure while presenting a freshly created intervention in the form of a showroom environment.
The intervention, which was envisioned as a handmade object incorporated into the structure, is located inside the room, separate from the current structural framework. The character of this new form is distinct from, yet in dialogue with, the textures and construction of the old warehouse and new furnishings throughout, with a white-washed wood finish that extends from floor to wall.
The existing area was an ensemble of diverse additions and historic elements. The framework of the building was clearly organised like a pre-war warehouse, but several modifications split the internal area and upset its logic. Instead of attempting to replace the old, this intervention intentionally adds components that highlight the building’s historic skeleton.
An existing mezzanine was reduced to let more light in order to showcase the historic construction. Individual office wings were taken down, and infilled bays facing the exterior walls were opened up to provide more visibility.
A new canopy on the building’s exterior organises and unifies the building’s storefront, loading zones and lift access bays. As it curves downward against the brick front to frame the new inner entrance, the canopy assumes a distinct personality. At the foot of the canopy, brand-new wood storefronts indicate the extent of the intervention. The outcome is a unique gesture that draws attention to both the modern and the old.
When combined, the interior and external interventions completely reimagine the area and the identity of the building. As a result, the showroom serves as a textured backdrop for the main pieces of furniture and items on sale while also clearly displaying the architecture in concept, form, and detail.
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