Last century’s urban dandy phenomenon never really gained a foothold in the Low Countries, but it looks like, as of late, a more democratised form may emerge. We’re talking the launch of Atelier Munro’s flagship store alongside one of the main shopping arteries of Amsterdam’s leafy Zuid district. The store, the brand’s very first retail space, serves as a blueprint for future outposts, and occupies a lofty 295 sqm. unit on the ground floor of a low-rise late 1930s residential building. The interior design is a collaborative effort of Atelier Munro’s creative director Joachim Baan and Amsterdam-based architecture practice Unknown Architects. The space anticipates the hectic lifestyle of its male clientele – and so do the made-to-measure offerings, but we’ll get to that later – featuring a variety of spaces. Upon entering the light-filled premises customers come across a coffee bar, managed by The Village Coffee, whose tempting aromatic concoctions often make it the first pitstop for many.
The adjacent section, captured by concrete flooring, a large display wall with shelving and cabinets crafted from repurposed timber, and a larger tiered display area, presents Atelier Munro‘s ready-to-wear pieces, shoes, accessories and a curated selection of books by De Utrechtse Boekenbar—mind you, a full-fledged library is to open shortly on the premises. Up on the mezzanine, Atelier Munro‘s made-to-measure expertise comes to life. The spacious in-house atelier has an extended living room feel with samples, fabrics, and last but not least, all the required hi-tech readily available to create a trophy suit. The setting sees two sections divided by a veiled storage unit, flanked on one side by a fitting room, while on the opposite end a secluded lounge can be found. The interior design also seamlessly embeds striking elements by other designers, such as sleek lighting fixtures by Tim Hooijmans, David Kulen‘s artsy tapestries, and shortly, an installation from brand ambassador Bjarne Mastenbroek. The brand is to expand internationally, opening its next outpost in Toronto.
Atelier Munro
Beethovenstraat 9 (Zuid)
1077HM Amsterdam
Telephone: +31 20 2371616
Mon 12am-6pm
Tue-Sat 10am-6pm
Sun 10am-5pm
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
