New York-based design practice Taller KEN has completed work on a new retail space for Costa Rican women’s apparel retailer Hija de Tigre in the upscale Escazú suburb of the country.
In order to ensure that façade conveyed a more streamlined box form, the firm removed external moldings and all other interruptions. Then, the structure was updated with new concrete volumes and a vibrant color palette inspired by Latin architects Luis Barragán and Ricardo Bofill.
“This project was an opportunity to make the standalone building ‘stand out’, and bring a hip and colorful vibe to the neighborhood, by breaking from the standard palette of other new constructions you see around,” says Inés Guzmán, cofounder and principal of the design studio.
On the ground floor, layered color and texture add tropical depth to the interiors where home goods and accessories are showcased. Mosaic floors composed of ceramic shards further punctuate its white, airy atmosphere. A neutral palette serves as a backdrop for casual apparel on the second floor, featuring two-tone geometric pink floors and sand-hued stucco walls. Finally, on the uppermost floor are black and white terrazzo floors spanning the interiors, offsetting elements like yellow and black furniture, and a custom millwork stained in a dark honey tone.
