Prada celebrates 25 years with free apples & architectural retrospective in soho
A quarter-century of innovation: prada's soho epicenter
Oh, my stars! Can you believe it’s been 25 years? Prada is marking a significant milestone – the 25th anniversary of its groundbreaking Broadway Epicenter in SoHo, New York City. This isn’t just a store; it’s a piece of architectural history, a landmark that redefined retail. To celebrate, they're giving away free fruit! It’s delightful, really, a little bit unexpected, and perfectly Prada.
The apple of prada's eye: a sweet celebration
Forget the old adage, an apple a day…but what if it’s a Prada apple? Through Valentine’s Day, Prada’s “Shack” kiosk on Prince Street is offering complimentary apples. These aren't your average Galas or Granny Smiths, darling. Each apple is adorned with a custom wallpaper design, mirroring the Epicenter’s fascinating origin story. It’s a charming touch, isn’t it? A little something special for everyone.
Architectural vision: rem koolhaas and oma
The Epicenter, opened on December 15, 2001, was the brainchild of renowned architect Rem Koolhaas and his studio, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). A close collaborator of Miuccia Prada, Koolhaas created something truly exceptional. It launched a global franchise of Prada Epicenters in cities like Tokyo and Los Angeles. It’s just marvelous to see how one vision can ripple across the world!
A gallery of design: inside the flagship store
Located on the corner of Prince and Broadway, the Epicenter occupies an entire city block. Many New Yorkers will remember the space as the former home of the Guggenheim Museum’s downtown branch. Koolhaas cleverly maintained a gallery-like atmosphere, complete with amphitheater-style seating in the lower level for talks and performances. Now, a stunning 197-foot wall showcases the building’s history through wallpaper depicting construction images, scale models and key concepts.
Words and walls: the epicenter's narrative
The wallpaper isn't just pretty; it’s thought-provoking. It includes slogans like “In a world where everything is shopping…and shopping is everything…what is luxury? Luxury is NOT shopping.” Alongside this visual feast, Prada is reissuing a landmark 2001 publication documenting OMA’s projects for the brand. Ferdinando Verderi, a frequent Prada collaborator and creative director, designed the wallpaper and activation, stating that it articulates the creation process and highlights fashion’s shifting role.
A fruity reward: apples and publications
At the “Shack” kiosk, lines have been forming down Prince Street! With a wallpaper-wrapped sticker on your chosen apple, you can redeem it for a copy of the reissued publication. And don’t worry, you get to enjoy the apple too! Isn’t that just the sweetest deal? It’s a wonderful way to engage with the brand and celebrate a quarter-century of exceptional design. A little bit of luxury for everyone, what could be better?