concept & vision
Inspired by the existing Bal Harbor Shop in Florida and its lush, long, green courtyard, Bal Harbour Shops/ACCESS is a transportable building conceived to provide a real BHS experience on the go. The black and white motif and the elegant, understated atmosphere are replicated here in an intimate, unexpected structure.
design & architecture
28 containers are organized in two long parallel volumes to capture an extensive garden—comprehensive of the signature species and water features with koi fish. This courtyard is flanked by pedestrian walkways as long shaded porticos, to visit and access the adjacent shops. Inspired by the long row of palm trees and their shadows on the walls at BHS, the porticos are cut and painted in the shape of palm tree shadows, bringing BHS character to this new experience. A large monstera leaf marks the simple white volumes on their outer surfaces, in contrast with its rich interior experience.
program & use
The space is organized around a central gathering area with a restaurant, covered outdoor dining, and a lounge. Small, medium, and large shops, along the facing pedestrian paths, are activated on a rotating basis, and customized through a system of modular displays that use white road box cases of different sizes and fabric graphic panels.
impact & significance
Bal Harbour Shops/ACCESS merges refined aesthetics with mobility, delivering a truly unique shopping experience that retains the signature subtropical ambiance of its Florida origins.
