-By Danine Alati, Photography by Karsten Staiger

A 19th-century carriage house in the heart of New York's Chelsea neighborhood hardly seems like an ideal venue in which to showcase artistic metalwork. But James Harb Architects embraces this unconventional layout to create a marvelous backdrop for Michael Aram's flagship store.

Previously only selling his goods through high-end department stores and boutiques, Michael Aram took this opportunity to make a statement with his first freestanding retail shop. Featuring a black-on-black palette, this store seems to be the antithesis of Aram's ornate metal goods, which include housewares, accent furniture, and lighting that are all extremely popular with brides. "I needed something experiential—not your average retail store," says Aram. "So we moved away from the pristine white spaces that characterize the stores surrounding us and built a rich, dark, cave-like environment that's more in keeping with the alternative side of my work."

Harb explains that the greatest challenge was uncovering the archeology of this landmark building. "There was much of an historic presence with the interiors. We wanted to return the space to its original glory as much as possible, replicating arches and portals," he says. "We wanted to distill through architecture Michael [Aram]'s approach to designing metalwork with a modernist play on black textures."

Nature clearly inspires Aram's work—as illustrated in cast-metal designs evocative of foliage and nautical themes—and as such, organic imagery prevails in this unique black-box space with a juxtaposition of rough and slick textures. Backlit display cases with gold leaf accents pop out against the black-painted brick and black polished plaster walls, blackened steel panels, and sandblasted black oak shelving. Black slate floors in the front of the space and the original steps up to the horse stable with 150-year-old wood-plank floors lend a rugged quality to the space that contrasts drastically with the sleek Michael Aram wares. Aram custom-produced cast-aluminum wall tiles that clad the far wall of the store, glowing against the otherwise black-on-black palette. Large backlit panels featuring marketing campaigns display natural images, and Harb incorporated Aram's custom-designed legs that resemble tree limbs into the central display table. With shelving either black or white resin plastic to be as neutral as possible, the merchandise is the star of the space.

A skylight at the back slices through the second floor showroom/offices and introduces natural light to the dark space. At the front of the store, Harb pulled back the upper level to form a double-height entrance that at once reveals a marriage between the two levels and creates a grandiose storefront that lures in passersby. Harb also completely restored the façade that had fallen into disrepair during the 20th century by matching original masonry, recreating the arched entryway, and installing a large tempered glass display window over the opening that once welcomed horse-drawn carriages.

While dealing with this landmark building presented its own unique quagmires, Harb says that the close collaboration with Aram made the process run smoothly. "It was interesting to develop the perimeter space and come up with a few ways to showcase the product that would be used as the prototype for future in-store displays," Harb says. "Building all of this within a shell as one singular space with different display areas was exciting.

Aram adds, "People choose my work because the objects tell a story on their own. They don't just sweetly accent a room. I believe the images that are incorporated into my pieces stir something deeper and more emotional in people. This space celebrates that difference."