Kettal Showroom in Coral Gables, Florida by Mateu Architecture

Article source: Mateu Architecture

DESIGN OF A RETAIL SHOWROOM FOR AN OUTDOOR FURNITURE COMPANY BASED IN BARCELONA, SPAIN IN AN EXISTING RETAIL SPACE ON MIRACLE MILE, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA.

THE OWNERS OF THIS OUTDOOR FURNITURE COMPANY WANTED TO OPEN A SHOWROOM IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, THEIR FIRST LOCATION IN THE USA.

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

• Architects: Mateu Architecture
• Project: Kettal Showroom
• Location: Coral Gables, Florida
• Client: Grupo Kettal North America
• Building Area: (sf) 7,512 SQ. FT.  A/C
• Cost per Square Foot: $120
• Construction Cost: $900,000
• Date of Substantial Completion: MARCH, 2007
• Type of Project: COMMERCIAL
• Photographer: Carlos Domenech

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

Project Team:

• Roney J. Mateu, AIA.
• Benjamin McGuirl
• Gustavo Alfonso, AIA.
• Ramon Arbesu

Consultants:

• M.A. Suarez & Associates, Inc., Structure
• Project  CAINE  Consulting Engineer, Electrical
• PRV Engineering, Inc., Mechanical / Plumbing
• Vasallo Construction, General Contractor

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

Construction materials, mechanical systems or other pertinent information:

• CBS  CONSTRUCTION
• POURED IN PLACE CONCRETE
• IMPACT GLASS
• HIGH EFFICENCY SPLIT A/C SYSTEM

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

THE SITE, FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY BISCAYNE CAFETERIA, WAS A PLACE OF LEGENDARY FOOD FOR MANY YEARS.  IT’S LOCATION, IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLOCK, IN THE MIDDLE OF MIRACLE MILE, (A SIX BLOCK LONG COLLECTION OF STOREFRONTS, RETAIL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS), MAKES UP THE HEART OF CORAL GABLES.

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

CORAL GABLES IS A CITY THAT PROFFERS “MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE” AS THE PREFERRED STYLE OF “DRESS” FOR ALL BUILDINGS.  TO ENCOURAGE SUCH RESPONSE, IT REWARDS THOSE WHO “DRESS” ARCHITECTURE IN MEDITTERRANEAN ORNAMENTATION, WITH BIGGER AND TALLER BUILDINGS (MORE FAR, MORE HEIGHT, ETC.).

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

THE KETTAL DESIGN SOLUTION IS ONE THAT CELEBRATES THE OBJECTS ON DISPLAY.  THE SIMPLICITY OF THE DESIGN IS ONE THAT SAYS,” COME IN AND VISIT” GIVING THE SOLUTION ITS STRENGTH.

THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE FAÇADE HIGHLIGHTS THE PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY.  ITS GLASS SKIN IS ONLY FOR CONTAINMENT OF AIR CONDITIONING, ALLOWING LIGHT TO WASH THE INTERIOR WHILE MAXIMIZING THE LIMITED STREET “FRONT” EXPOSURE TO THE OUTDOOR FURNITURE.

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

THE LARGE, OPEN SHOWROOM PLAN IS GENTLY ARTICULATED INTO THREE MAIN AREAS, A RESPONSE TO THE COMPANY’S THREE MAJOR FURNITURE LINES.  TILTED WALLS AND SLOPING CEILINGS TOWARDS “SKYLIGHTS” ACCENTUATE THE “OUTDOOR” QUALITIES OF THE FURNITURE DISPLAYS, FURTHER DEFINE THE SPACE, WHILE ALLOWING MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN DISPLAY OPPORTUNITIES.

Image Courtesy Carlos Domenech

IN THE HEART OF “HISTORIC” CORAL GABLES, THE BUILDING OF SUCH A MODERN, FUNCTIONAL, STRAIGHTFORWARD DESIGN MAY ITSELF BECOME HISTORY.

FOR NOW, THE KETTAL SHOWROOM STANDS, AMONG AN UNMEMORABLE COLLECTION OF RETAIL STOREFRONTS, AS A BOLD TESTAMENT TO THE TENETS OF A VITAL AND VIABLE, MODERN TRADITION.

Before & After

Tags: Coral Gables, Florida

Categories: Commercial Building, Showroom

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