J Press
New York, NY, USA
2017

The new J. Press store at Yale Club on 44th street between Madison Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue reflects an aesthetic and concept of contemporary New England. With another location in Cambridge, J. Press has an established connection to the academic life and communities of Yale and Harvard that has become a tradition of the company. The new store at the ground level of the Yale Club in New York reaffirms this connection, but with a design that appeals to both the traditional and the new.

Because of J. Press's long affiliation with academic and intellectual community, the space’s typology is derived from libraries and the act of browsing. The experience presented here is more introspective than a typical shopping trip, more closely resembling how one may spend a leisurely afternoon wandering through a library, looking at titles, selecting books from shelves and creating connections in various ways that enrich their imagination.

This retail space is the first in the world to be completely lit by the Kaneka OLED lighting system, which uses sheet material to emit soft, natural, and even light. Originally designed for use in museums, the lighting systems ensures merchandise will look true to its color and detailing and texture will appear vivid and enticing. The lighting also contributes to the stores’ quiet atmosphere. The J. Press store is a new type of retail space that offers a respite for visitors and provides an experience beyond simple shopping. Overall, the store embraces elegance, grace, functionality and simplicity of the New England contemporary aesthetic.