Architecture studio Baranowitz + Kronenberg has enclosed the interiors of a lab-grown-diamond jewellery store in New York's Soho district with charcoal-coloured steel walls.
The narrow store for jewellery brand Âme on Spring Street was designed by Israeli practice Baranowitz + Kronenberg as a "sensory retail experience" informed by darkness, materiality, scent and sound.

The walls of the monochromatic, charcoal-coloured store are made from rolled-stainless-steel panels which contrast with the stainless steel display units. The material was chosen for its industrial past and contemporary look.
"The main theme of the design of the store is the combination between past, present and future," said the practice's co-founders, Alon Baranowitz and Irene Kronenberg. "This project follows our design philosophy that has been our guiding light for two decades. We come, observe and look at the findings with an open mind while scrutinising every contextual insight."

The duo sought to contrast the decorative architectural style of buildings in Soho with the technological process of making diamonds in a lab ? rather than mining from the earth.
"The duality of the historic architecture of Soho, New York with the cutting-edge modern design, inspired by this very architecture, creates an entirely new impression and reflects the very soul of Âme," they said.
According to the studio, the steel walls are representative of shadows cast from undulati...