Fairweather NYC - Mark Warfield

My project is a design proposal for Fairweather NYC, which makes rain gear and waterproof accessories so we can thrive outdoors no matter how wet it is. I designed the space at 341 Grand Street to be a cathedral to bad weather. Decisions for the interior could not be made without considering the exterior first. For instance, the lighting idea for the space was to be even, diffuse, and shadow-less, so here our exterior translucent panels have two functions: When it rains, they swing down and provide shelter; but, when there is bright sun, they fold back against the building, screening the upper floor windows from direct sunlight. We recast the large existing downspout in clear acrylic with LED backing to light up when it rains, a simple but sophisticated piece of signage. Biophilic elements on the interior touch all the senses — the roll of the swollen floor under foot, hearing the drip of the leaking pipe fountain, and feeling the mist from the fog screen on the second floor on which films are projected. All the elements strive to work together to dramatize the unheralded beauty of a wet day in the city.