Kvadrat Opens New Flagship Showroom Designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec in Los Angeles
The new flagship, Kvadrat’s second showroom in America and a landmark on the firm’s expansion into the US, opened on November 18 2021. Located in LA’s Arts District, the launch of showroom marks the latest chapter of the celebrated collaboration between the high-end design textile brand and the globally acclaimed designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
Materiality, integral to the Kvadrat brand, is centre-stage throughout the space. The Bouroullecs have created a two-storey wooden construction within the showroom: the raw, over-dimensioned beams are reminiscent of the original settler homes. In a nod to the expertise in sustainable, authentic materials that Kvadrat stands for, it is crafted from Douglas Fir Wood harvested from responsibly managed forests. In front of the wooden structure, a light-filled gallery space welcomes visitors.
Erwan Bouroullec: “North America and Europe may have a lot in common, but they also adopt many different approaches when it comes to design. In developing the showroom, we wanted to convey Kvadrat’s design philosophy and culture across the Atlantic. So, we created a space that illuminates Kvadrat’s clear approach to materiality and design – and direct yet understated, distinctively warm culture.”
The wooden E-shaped house incorporates work zones on its top level and a social area at its heart, with meeting rooms on the ground floor. Bold textile panels, featuring a unique graphic knitted design created by Erwan Bouroullec for the space adorn the walls.
Sculptural art textiles by Erwan Bouroullec – part of the Color Bloc series also created for the showroom launch – add a further dimension of colour and materiality to the experience of the meeting rooms. They are fabricated with a thin metal backing and can be shaped into intriguing forms that can be characterised as ‘hyper textures’. These signature elements mirror the interior concept and the Kvadrat brand values, by expressing raw elements and a visceral sense of meticulous engineering.
The shelving and hanging system originally developed by the Bouroullecs for Kvadrat’s Copenhagen flagship showroom, further defines the experience. Made from CNC milled anodised aluminium and hung from a flexible track system, it displays large pieces of upholstery textiles, curtains and rugs from the brands in the Kvadrat universe: Kvadrat, Kvadrat/Raf Simons and Sahco.
Like all Kvadrat showrooms, the Los Angeles showroom is acoustically optimised with a Kvadrat Acoustics solution. It comprises Soft Cells-panels, upholstered with the Patio textile and the NODE system, which seamlessly coordinates and conceals building services for an aesthetically pure look.
Aluminium tables and benches designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Emeco create a dynamic yet subtle dialogue with the track system and further underline the strong sense of materiality that defines the experience of the showroom.
‘We have received an extremely warm welcome in the US. Our team has already built a strong client base and we have many exiting projects in the pipeline. Our new flagship showroom in LA embodies everything Kvadrat stands for, materiality, colour, and engineering. It also shines a light on Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s deep understanding of our brand in a truly immersive fashion. It’s a vibrant yet tranquil space that tempts you to stay awhile and explore the novelties on display.’ Anders Byriel, CEO Kvadrat.
The next phase of the ‘Kvadrat Goes American’ journey, will be the opening of the flagship showroom in New York designed by the American industrial designer Jonathan Olivares. Like the Bouroullecs, he is also a long-time collaborator with Kvadrat.
Kvadrat Inc
691 Imperial St.
Los Angeles, CA 90021
About Kvadrat
Kvadrat was established in Denmark in 1968 and has deep roots in Scandinavia’s world-famous design tradition. A leader in design innovation, Kvadrat produces high-performance, design textiles, rugs, window covering and acoustic solutions for both commercial and residential interiors.
Our products reflect our commitment to colour, quality, simplicity and innovation. We consistently push the aesthetic, technological and functional properties of textiles. In doing so, we collaborate with leading designers, architects and artists including: Patricia Urquiola, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Margrethe Odgaard, Alfredo Häberli, Doshi Levien, Giulio Ridolfo, Peter Saville, Pipilotti Rist, Thomas Demand and Olafur Eliasson.
About Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are two of the most influential designers in the world today. Trained in modern art and design, they have worked together from their studio in Paris since 1999. Their diverse output spans furniture, product design, interior design and development of conceptual objects.
About the collaboration between Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and Kvadrat
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have worked with Kvadrat since 2006. During this time, they have designed a number of visionary products for the company such as Clouds, North Tiles, Ready Made Curtain, Roller Blinds, several textiles and a rug. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have also designed a number of showrooms for Kvadrat. Notably, the company’s previous and current flagship showrooms in Copenhagen and Stockholm.
