this compact eyeglass shop in New York west village As part of the design studio, it is divided into “on stage” and “backstage” areas Tutto Bene‘s “love letter to theatrical glamour”.
Second New York City store for the UK-based brand qubits Located on Bleecker Street, known for its architectural charm and a variety of boutiques.
design Studio Tutto BeneJoe, who is behind many of Cubitt’s interiors, looked to the history of the neighborhood and the building – which was once the home of playwright Lorraine Hansberry – to inform this space.
The design team said, “It is a love letter to theatrical glamour, reflecting the duality of ‘on stage’ and ‘backstage’, public and private life.” “The front of the shop is designed as a stage for spectacles. A theater of the everyday, for the theatrical masks we all wear.”
The glasses are displayed on wooden shelves hidden within the beige walls and illuminated by cove lighting hidden behind.
The wooden floorboards are painted black to simulate a stage, while the movable display plinth made of brushed aluminum has a prop-like quality.
Overhead, 1980s geometric pendant lamp by Swiss architect mario bota Joins 1960s Kaiser Leuchten table lamp by German designer klaus hempel – Both were chosen because of their similarity to theater flashlights.
According to Tutto Bene, a velvet-upholstered sofa was placed in the window for shoppers to rest, relax, and watch the spectacle display, providing “a front row seat for the weary spectacle browser.”
The curved wall behind a partition leads to a “backstage” area, decorated in contrasting dark grey.
This space is used for special consultations and includes a vanity mirror with lightbulbs, like a theater dressing room.
To celebrate the opening of the West Village store, Cubitts has launched three new frames based on local landmarks, including former speakeasy Chumley’s and Whitney Museum of American Art,
The brand was founded in 2013 in King’s Cross, London and now has 19 stores spread across both sides of the Atlantic.
Tutto Bene is led by Felizia Berchtold and Oscar Kohnen, and has studios in London and Milan.
The firm’s previous interiors for Qubits include Store in Islington, North LondonOne built on an artist’s loft and one Boutique in Soho, New York Influenced by early 20th century American industrial design.
photography is by alice sing,
