Taller KEN's OKIO boutique is a giant billboard for eyewear

2017-09-20T14:40:00-04:00

Doubling as a giant billboard and storefront, the OKIO eyewear boutique in Guatemala features an eye-catching façade shaped like a pair of cat's eyeglasses.

The project was designed by architectural practice Taller KEN, recently featured in our Small Studio Snapshots series.

Photo credits: Byron Marmol, Marcelo Gutierrez

The giant, circular windows make clear the usage, bring in natural light and allow outsiders to window shop. Throughout the store—which contains a retail area, exam room, restrooms and storage—this playful geometry is carried out. A large 'oculus' skylight, brightens up the interior and mirrors of different shapes and sizes reflect the different shapes in the ceiling and façade.

Photo credits: Byron Marmol, Marcelo Gutierrez

Inside, a custom display bar and cashier are positioned underneath the skylight at the center of the space. Interior details are designed with natural wood that contrasts the cool white of the ...

Winners of New Practices New York 2016 announced

2016-02-10T12:49:00-05:00

Judged by a five-member jury including Architect's Newspaper editor-in-chief William Menking and Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at MOMA Martino Stierli, the 2016 New Practices New York winners are MODU, SCHAUM/SHIEH, stpmj, Studio Cadena, Taller KEN, and the suitably-named Young Projects. Some of the award-wining work includes a "sliding screen partition made from folded, polished stainless steel" by Young Projects in Tribeca:

stpmj garnered the award by submitting their Shear House project, an environmentally sensitive house sited in Yecheon, Korea:

Meanwhile, Taller KEN used an inventive moulded fiberglass element for their Zona 14 House in Guatemala City:

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Taller KEN's OKIO boutique is a giant billboard for eyewear

Winners of New Practices New York 2016 announced