Aranaz Boutique

Juan Carlo Calma, Architectural Association (AA) student in London, designed Aranaz boutique in Manila, Philippines, with a skin that?s reminiscent of a leather bag?s texture. He is always interested in imitation of a natural phenomenon or environment?s efficiency and survival mechanisms of plants and animals. His inspiration was luxurious and exotic skins such as crocodile skin which is used for construction of a bag. Most of his projects are always looking at nature or inspired by algorithms found nature.

The client, Aranaz, with their success in the bag-export worldwide as well as the local fashion market, wanted to have a reflective surface similar to their evening bags. The 52 square meter store opened April 2008 and continuously changes with different installations and featured bags. It has a special room at the back of the boutique for clients who wish to have their bespoke and own designs materialized.

The overall concept was to create a skin assemblage that is wrapping around the store and have a ?field effect? as well as shelving, lighting, and product display would be all integrated. The crocodile skin-inspired wall is made of recycled timber faces and then scored rose-wood color laminates was put on top. It was pre-fabricated off site, composed of 220 pieces, easy-assembly, flat-packed and has low carbon foot print. Reflective vinyl tiles were used in the flooring. The configuration of ceiling acoustic panels produces multi-directional sound reflections from the variably sized and angled surfaces, creating a diffuse sound landscape within the retail space. With this in mind, the project pushes the boundaries of parametric design and creates a surreal fluctuating retail experience.

Juan Carlo Calma is a 4th year student in Architectural Association.

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