After debating between uptown and downtown, French shoe genius Pierre Hardy settled on an old garage in Manhattan’s West Village for the location of his first U.S. boutique. Nestled between a row of matching brick buildings on Jane Street, the smoky glass storefront disappears behind the shop’s whitewashed brick. Hardy worked with David Mann of MR Architecture + Decor to rebuild the space entirely. In the transformation, they made sure to preserve the original walls and constructed see-through partitions to feature the exposed original brick. The goal was to create a glass box inside the authentic brick structure by combining contemporary materials with the raw urban feel of New York. The cozy, intimate vibe of the store was then achieved through dark color schemes, dim lighting, velvet cushion benches, and semi-leather covered floors to protect the feet of shoppers trying on shoes.

Hardy has even created an exclusive new shoe to celebrate the brand’s Manhattan debut—the “Skyline” shoe (pictured below), which captures the architectural city backdrop of the store.

Pierre Hardy, 30 Jane Street, New York, NY; 646-449-0070.