The Snaidero USA New York showroom, designed by prominent architect Giorgio Borruso, received top honors at the Retail Design Institute’s International Store Awards show, winning 1st place in the Manufacturer Showroom category. Since 1971, the Retail Design Institute has acted as the industry’s only peer-reviewed retail showroom design competition, starting with an open nomination process which attracts over 200 entries.
Snaidero USA New York, which opened Sept. 10, 2009, in Manhattan’s A&D Building, is Snaidero USA’s third collaboration with Giorgio Borruso (following Los Angeles and Miami). The New York showroom is a new expression of the same concept used for the other two locations, with the effort to create a fluid path through the space using the architectonical and design elements in conjunction as a guide to explore the showroom.
Orange and black lines of tile dart out across the floors departing, as do the lighting fixtures, from the centre of the space, where a wall of horizontal panels transcend into the air, displaying kitchen door samples in a variety of lively colours. The essential element of the design plan was to allow visitors to not only interact with the showroom but also communicate with it and become a part of the design; this was accomplished with the addition of black slate walls which guests are encouraged to write on.
The Awards Gala took place on Jan. 11 at the Times Center stage in New York City, where more than 200 of the industry’s top professionals gathered to recognize and applaud the 2009 winners.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Snaidero USA’s collaborative effort with Giorgio Borruso,” says Dario Snaidero, president and CEO of Snaidero USA. “The fact that our New York location was chosen as the best manufacturer showroom of 2009 by our peers makes the award all the more special.”