Judith Ripka, Beverly Hills, CA
OWNER: Judith Ripka; ADDRESS: 234 North Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210; PHONE: 310-275-3013
DIVINE DESIGNER JUDITH RIPKA s star is in the ascendant. her Rodeo Drive boutique’s was so successful, the architects who car-ried it out, James D’Auria Associates of New York, found themselves re-doing her flagship NY store as well. James D’auria discusses the project:
Why the Location?
“Before the store was opened, Judith Ripka was based on the East coast. This was to be her first West Coast store, and when the Rodeo Drive address became available, it seemed the obvious choice.”
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What Was the Inspiration for the Design?
“The inspiration was the jewelry itself. Judith Ripka’s jewelry is neither traditional, nor strictly modern; it has the feeling of an updated classic – enduring but with contemporary appeal. Like her jewelry, the store should draw on fine styling and craftsmanship, and purity of line and proportion.”
Any Special Features?
“There’s a very modern transparent façade on the street, which really draws people in, but layers of wood and fabric at front bring a little softness to the modernity. The interior’s specifically designed to create a feeling of barrier-free browsing – the showcases don’t touch the perimeter walls, and that free-floating element means the salespeople can interact with the customers in a more friendly way.”
How Do Visitors React to the Store?
“Most people are really impressed with it, they say how much it captures the feeling of the jewelry. In fact, business here has been so good that we’ve also redone the New York flagship store. That design was already five years old, and with the refit we were able to make it more bright and cheery – to give it a renaissance, so to speak. We modeled that redesign on this one, and the reaction has also been very very positive.”
PHOTO GALLERY (3 Images)
