Calvin Klein Collection installation work by Joshua Prince-Ramus
The Calvin Klein Collection store on Madison Avenue has unveiled a unique collaborative installation as the centerpiece of the store’s annual holiday window display.
Initially conceived by Dale Rozmiarek, Senior Vice President, Creative Services, Calvin Klein, Inc., the final structure was designed by architect Joshua Prince-Ramus and his firm, REX Architecture P.C., working with Magnusson Klemencic Associates (structure) and Situ Studio (fabrication).
The work, entitled “Madison Avenue (Doll)House,” was envisioned by Rozmiarek as a futuristic concept home that spoke to the needs of modern, urban living while addressing the use and importance of space.
The work has been exhibited at the Calvin Klein Collection flagship store located at 654 Madison Avenue in New York City, where visitors can step up into the window to view the piece up-close. Additionally, large-scale photographs of the New York City installation are also now featured in the windows of the Calvin Klein Collection store in Milan, Italy.
Prince-Ramus’ work style and his eloquent, intelligent designs made him the perfect choice for this project. Prince-Ramus immediately understood the initial concept for the structure and he and his team brought a dynamic point of view to the work, infusing many unique and thoughtful elements to the final structure.
“By treating a New York street like landscape — and Calvin Klein’s storefront like a New York street — we created a detached single-family (doll)house in Manhattan for the Calvin Klein woman,” said architect Prince-Ramus.
“Undeniably frivolous, the ‘Madison Avenue (Doll)House’ still suggests a kernel of an idea for accommodating growth in existing population centers.”
Designed with the Calvin Klein aesthetic as the common thread throughout, the stylish dwelling spans 4 complete floors, including a landscaped urban rooftop, and is fabricated in steel, acrylic sheet, and four-way stretch Spandex. The elegant one-thousand pound structure seemingly floats high above a New York City street from four steel suspension hangers.
All of the interior spaces are furnished with miniature replicas of pieces from the company’s apparel, accessory, and home lines, including the new furniture line set to debut in early 2009 in the U.S. These items were designed and contributed by several of the company’s creative directors: Francisco Costa, Calvin Klein Collection for women; Italo Zucchelli, Calvin Klein Collection for men; Ulrich Grimm, Calvin Klein Shoes & Accessories; and, Amy Mellen, Calvin Klein Home.
Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation [NYSE: PVH], is one of the leading fashion design and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women’s and men’s designer collection apparel and a range of other products that are manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensing agreements and other arrangements worldwide.
REX is an internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm based in New York City. Founded in 2001 as OMA New York—the American branch of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture—REX became an independent office under the leadership of Joshua Prince-Ramus in 2006. REX recently participated in the limited competition to re-conceive Governors Island in New York Harbor, and is now engaged in the invited competition to design the new Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.
DESIGN CREDITS:
Madison Avenue (Doll)House: Design by REX Architecture P.C.: Jeff Franklin, Joshua Prince-Ramus, Jacob Reidel, Alejandro Schieda, Eugenia Zimmerman; Structure by Magnusson Klemencic Associates: Lavina Sadhwani, Jay Taylor; Fabrication by Situ Studio: Óskar Arnórsson, Robert Beach, Basar Girit, Sunnie Joh, Wes Rozen, Ben Strear, James White; Clothing and furniture design by Calvin Klein: Francisco Costa, Women’s Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection; Italo Zucchelli, Men’s Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection; Ulrich Grimm, Creative Director, Calvin Klein Shoes & Accessories; Amy Mellen, Creative Director, Calvin Klein Home.
PHOTOS: © 2008 James Lattanzio
CONTACTS:
Calvin Klein, Inc.
Jennifer Crawford
Vice President, Corporate Communications
P. +1 212 292 9795
jennifercrawford@ck.com
REX Architecture PC
160 Varick St. 10th Floor
New York NY 10013 USA
P. +1.646.230.6557
F. +1.646.230.6558
office@rex-ny.com
www.rex-ny.com
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