Camper Together Washington | Miralles Tagliabue EMBT

Camper presents a new Together store created in collaboration with Benedetta Tagliabue, the brand’s first establishment to open in the capital of the United States of America, Washington, D.C. The project is defined by the interplay of reflections and shoe silhouettes that give shape to the furnishings, which were designed especially for this venue. The store also features the contrasts and unique traits that characterise the architecture produced by the EMBT studio. “When we were asked to design a new Camper store, we imagined shoes resting on irregular surfaces, as they would when being used to walk across a rural landscape. Camper, which is closely related to that image, has accustomed us to play, smile and see footwear through the eyes of a child. For that reason, we also imagined trying on their shoes in front of distorting mirrors, like the ones they used to have at old amusement parks—here I’m tall as a tree, there I’m short as a hobbit—and many surfaces that reflect distorted images were incorporated in our project. Finally, we visited Camper’s headquarters in Majorca, where we saw how they actually make the shoes. There we realised that we wanted to build the store in the same way that flat leather magically becomes a three-dimensional object with the help of lasts and stitches. We cut out many different shoe shapes—heels, flats, high, low, for men, for women—and placed their two-dimensional profiles alongside each other, and so a new three-dimensionality emerged. Their construction is unusual yet very simple: silhouettes cut out of MDF board which, when combined, form seats, tables and supporting surfaces. The distorting mirrors flow above them, keeping the kids entertained while their parents practice the fine art of shopping.” BENEDETTA TAGLIABUE