Fashion designer and creator of the Claude Maus label, Rob Maniscalco has opened his first store in Manchester Lane, Melbourne. Stephen Crafti reports.
May 9th, 2008
The new store is steeped in history, with the leopard skin wallpaper of the previous owner visible through a shredded section on one wall. “In the seventies, it was home to Merivale and Mr. John. They set the fashion scene throughout that period,” says Maniscalco.
After the iconic fashion label moved on in the 1980s, the building floundered. Today, it is being transformed into the ‘Merigold’ apartments, with retail stores at ground level. “We essentially inherited a shell. The main feature was the high decorative ceiling,” says Maniscalco.
For this project, Maniscalco collaborated with Herbert Mason Architects, along with some of the artists he has worked with over the years – he studied fine art before moving on to fashion in the late 1990s.
These included architect and artist Jenny Berean (also employed with Herbert Mason), Starlie Geikie, Pat Foster and Sarah Parkes. “The space was large enough for us all to contribute,” says Maniscalco. And while there are different signatures throughout the store, the different brushstrokes come together beautifully.
Inspired by the work of artists such as Frank Stella and sculptors such as Donald Judd, the Claude Maus interior is also influenced by DIY housing books and magazines from the 1970s, appropriate, given the building’s history.
“In the seventies, many DYI’s made do with found materials. There was a sense of inventiveness,” says Maniscalco.
This inventiveness is showcased in the centre of the store. Elongated pine boxes of varying lengths appear to have been dropped into a random pile. A few light boxes, of similar proportion, illuminate the stack.
Used to display narrow men’s jeans, it’s a refreshing alternative to lines of stacked jeans on shelves. “We wanted to move away from traditional shop fittings,” says Maniscalco, who used the store’s central column to divide the men’s and women’s clothing.
The central column in the store was clad with recycled timber found in junkyards. This column, also a structural support, complements the over scaled macramé (designed by Sarah Parkes) used to support a clothing rack and pendent light fitting.
“It wasn’t the usual scenario with a fixed design from the start. It tended to evolve as each artist made a mark,” says Maniscalco. He also commissioned London-based Australian artist David Noonan to design a light fitting over the store counter. Made of timber, Noonan’s lamp has a strong Norwegian folk theme.
Most importantly, the collaborative design captures the feel of the Claude Maus label – simple, but with subtle detail. “Our clothing is quite minimal,” says Maniscalco. “But there’s surface treatment which you sometimes only notice when you put them on.”
Interior design Rob Maniscalco and Raffaele Cotroneo, in collaboration with architects Herbert & Mason
Claude Maus
www.claudemaus.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
What makes cork such an eco-friendly choice? Cork flooring has been gaining attention recently for not only its versatility but its environmental impact. So what are the best design ideas for contemporary cork flooring?
The new look, an ideal match of appliances – side by side. Your competence centre for absolutely every dish made in the oven, with or without steam. Built-in to the height of your choice. – The classic oven, discovered anew. 17 heating modes, core temperature probe, rotisserie, Pyrolytic self-cleaning, with an optional baking stone. – […]
How was Milan from the perspective of architects and designers? This question is the basis of our Milan Q+A series with the A+D community. After all, personal opinion fuels conversation.
Students at the University of Sydney launched CIRCA last year with the aim of creating a platform for architectural discourse for students and professionals alike. After a series of successful events, the second issue is under construction.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
In Malaysia Spacemen has created a world of perfumed wonder with their latest project, Trove, where treasures abound.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.