Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Monos New York Mercer Flagship
Canadian luggage-maker Monos is known for elevating airport travel with its handsome suitcases. In its New York flagship, the brand proves adept at time travel, too. Taking inspiration from monumental historic architecture — the Buddhist monastery of Fayaz-Tepa, the adobe city of Chan Chan and the stepped terraces of Puruchuco all served as reference points — Belgian architect Bernard Dubois conceived a monastic space that evokes the ruins of some freshly excavated long-lost civilization.
Mind you, as much as Dubois set out to develop a showroom with its own sense of imagined history, he also had to address the very real past of the space he was working in: a 252-square-metre storefront in a heritage SoHo building. In turn, existing elements like cast iron columns and the interior’s various raised areas served as key influences on the project. From there, Dubois set about constructing his vision, brick by brick.
Sure enough, Monos shoppers arrive at a showroom clad almost entirely in thin red clay blocks, which appear on the floors, walls and, most spectacularly, on the sweeping drop ceiling. This focal point weaves around several of the showroom’s industrial columns (painted white for added impact) and incorporates circular cut-outs that allow others to pass right through. Meanwhile, stepped brick platforms act as display podiums and seating, turning the multi-level space’s many sets of stairs into a core part of its layered design identity.
Rather than using faux brick panels, Dubois opted for slender, individually fired blocks that maintain a sense of traditional masonry yet nevertheless remain lightweight enough to fully clad the ceiling. Wood adds another hit of rich, authentic texture: Rounded walls with inset walnut millwork funnel shoppers into intimate niches, including one that features elegant bois de bout oak parquet flooring.
Integrated soundscapes and lighting features further heighten the meditative atmosphere, rewarding exploration at each new turn. The overall outcome conjures the same awestruck feeling that someone experiences when setting foot on foreign terrain, reinforcing the idea of a voyage as a path to personal enlightenment. Time to pack your bags.
Team: Bernard Dubois (Bernard Dubois Architects), Hubert Chan (Monos)
