Local Nomad Shop

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

LOCAL NOMAD SHOP

s p a c e BUREAU

ARCHITECTS
s p a c e BUREAU

PLUMBING ENGINEERING
Ingenium Design

PHOTOGRAPHS
Luke Hansen

CLIENTS
Lauren Danuser, Lauren Danuser

AREA
1100 ft²

BUILDER
S P A C E Bureau

MECHANICAL + PLUMBING ENGINEERING
Ingenium Design

MANUFACTURERS
Autodesk, Plumen, Mcneel, Trimble

DESIGN TEAM
Oscar Lopez, Mihir Bavishi

ELECTRICAL
Tuley Engineering

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Ingenium Design

YEAR
2018

LOCATION
Phoenix, United States

CATEGORY
Store

Text description provided by architect.

Located within the first strip mall in Phoenix Arizona, Local Nomad is a 1,100sf retail space that focuses on curated goods from local and regional craftsmen and makers.

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

Taking cues from the store name itself, Local Nomad embraces the idea of belonging, to achieve a connection with a place and to wander and collect memories and experiences. Bringing together those moments to share them with others.

The aim of the project was to connect to the mid-century roots of the plaza and of the area in Central Phoenix where the project is located, while at the same time trying to move away from the traditional aluminum storefront aesthetic that is found in most typical strip malls.

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

The project wanted to give a hand-crafted feel to the space to match the quality of curated goods offered inside.

The concept for the plan and the layout was to bring together two intersecting volumes, one that shifts the storefront off-axis to engage the pedestrian traffic beyond the immediate plaza and the other that stays true to the axis and the plaza, allowing for the interior of the retail space to maximize the floor area and to grab the attention of the immediate pedestrians that are walking by and utilizing the plaza.

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

The two intersecting volumes are made evident by the two ceiling conditions that are unique to their orientation.

Furthermore, the storefront wanted to serve more than a barrier between the pedestrians and the interior of the space and instead wanted to invite and engage with the pedestrians by providing an interactive component to the storefront through integrated bench seating for one or multiple pedestrians.

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

While this type of engagement with storefronts is not typically found in strip malls, the project wanted to provide an area of rest and refuge so that the customers felt welcomed and had a space where they could pause, reflect, and engage with the project even before stepping inside.

The small budget for the project lead to creative and inventive uses of affordable and off the shelf materials.

The project consists of four materials throughout the space, each selected to serve a specific purpose based on the level of public engagement (touch).

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

Rough sawn Douglas Fir was selected for the windows that sit within the storefront. Italian birch plywood was used for the overall storefront and interior furnishings. Simple pine was used for the ceiling and African Mahogany for the seating bench surfaces of the storefront.

The overall character of the space provides a clean, inviting, and warm atmosphere through the use of common materials in inventive ways. Doing so elevates the quality of both the materials and the space.

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen

The storefront provides a refreshing change from the typical strip mall typology and the hand-crafted nature of the project directly relates to the local craftmanship found with the curated products found within the space.

Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen
Local Nomad Shop
© Luke Hansen


Local Nomad Shop
First floor plan
Local Nomad Shop
Site plan


Local Nomad Shop
Cross section
Local Nomad Shop
Longitudinal section


Local Nomad Shop
Detail
Local Nomad Shop
Axo