Anthropologie Burlingame

For a national retailer presence in Burlingame, California, the store was designed with a reference to the texture of the neighborhood, the landscape and the light that is so particular to northern California. The facade is formed by a series of layers, and a rhythm of translucent and solid forms. A screen of pipe wood and copper rods, backed by a porous fabric intersects with stacked concrete bays with slots of resin inserted at intervals. From the interior, these concrete bays bring natural light into the store via concealed skylights. The copper rods will act as highlights, much like a glittering necklace draping the facade, and will patina over time, reflecting the influence of the environment upon the facade. At night, the store will glow with lighting concealed behind the screen, revealing the layers of materials and dematerializing the perimeter shell. The Burlingame store is the recipeint of an AIA New York State Design Awards 2009 Award of Excellence in the Large Commercial Category.