Rockefeller Center
New York, NY

The Background
In 1992, Pompei A.D. was commissioned by Anthropologie to develop the initial concept for the brand’s environments and has subsequently designed 92 Anthropologie stores in the United States. These projects are the result of a longstanding, close collaboration between Pompei A.D., Anthropologie’s creative team and a nation-wide network of artist and artisan subcontractors for fixturing and architectural finishes. The Client
An innovator of lifestyle merchandising, Anthropologie offers customers a distinct mix of apparel, accessories, home furnishings, garden décor, and gifts in a richly-textured, tactile store environment. Anthropologie’s target customers are educated women, ages 20 to 45, who appreciate craftsmanship and cultural diversity.

The Concept
The inspiration for the Anthropologie store at Rockefeller Center, came from turn-of-the-century department stores. Pompei A.D. sought to design a space that would capture the sophisticated elegance of that time.

The Design
Anthropologie chose an existing theater for the location of this store. Due to the landmark status of the theater, Pompei A.D. team chose not to alter the exterior of the building, except to tint portions of the second level windows to create a mezzanine level within the space. The space was over twice the size of the brand's typical locations so, in order to give visitors the feel of an intimate shopping experience, the space was carved into layered merchandising zones, each with unique spatial characteristics and different wall to floor finishes. This idea was clearly evidenced in the layout of the fitting rooms, which utilize various angles in creating intimate spaces within the larger room. The marble grand staircase is a prominent design element of this Anthropologie. This was the first time that a staircase of this caliber was used in an Anthropologie store, and was used to reflect the upscale elegance of Rockefeller Center. Specifically intended to counteract the negative connotations associated with merchandising and shopping in a below ground area, the staircase was designed to open as the customer descends, creating a zone of decompression.

The Result
Anthropologie was very pleased with the finished result of the Anthropologie at Rockefeller Center. The undoubtedly ideal location offered the perfect opportunity for Pompei A.D. to break away from the conventional Anthropologie store design. The store is expected to exceed the projected 20 million dollar yearly sales volume and break the 30 million dollar mark. While no two Anthropologie stores are designed exactly alike, certain successful design strategies, such as the layered merchandising zones, will be incorporated into the design of future Anthropologie stores.