Man to Man Fitout, Wellington
Specialising in European brand Hugo Boss product, Man to Man is a well-known Wellington retail outlet with a loyal customer base. A changing inner city dynamic prompted their relocation to new premises on the corner of Bond Street and Victoria Street. Having completed the fitout for Man to Man’s previous store on Willis Street in 2001, Studio Pacific was asked to undertake design work for both the building upgrade and the retail fitout.
The two-storey 1930s character building required significant structural upgrade to meet current seismic codes. The building footprint was increased by reclaiming an area from a redundant light well at the rear of the building and an existing central column was removed to allow more space and better circulation around the floor plate.
Overall the brief for the fitout was to create a refined and upmarket yet unpretentious atmosphere that reflects the quality of the Hugo Boss merchandise. The ground floor has a light and sophisticated look, with a new frameless glazed frontage providing vital exposure to the street as well as allowing ample natural light through to the rear of the floor. Interior finishes include dark stained timber, porcelain floor tiles and a polished marble counter in rich bronze tones. All joinery and shop fittings were either refurbished from the previous fitout or custom-designed. A new stair, screened with translucent glass, provides access to the second floor, which has a more intimate, den-like atmosphere achieved through a slightly denser layout and dark shelving. Strategic layout design throughout the store allows full label collections, rather than fragments of product lines, to be displayed and creates a feeling of spaciousness that belies the small space.
Client: Dave Clareburt, Man to Man
