Sean Shuter and Daniel Jackson, the owners and curators of Cape Town’s newest menswear boutique Unknown Union, were looking for an antidote to the stereotypical, staid dark and leathery interiors that are so common in men’s stores. So, what better man to turn to than We Heart favourite and colour fanatic Rafael de Cárdenas of Architecture At Large, whose bold colours, geometric lines and Op Art fantasies for OHWOW have had us in awe for some time.
The brilliantly bold colours and vibrant graduations of the product displays are brought alive by a dramatic web of fluorescent lights, forming a vividly unique environment for the exclusive designer collections. The fabulously transformed split-level 18th century building – in the heart of Cape Town – features a global array of designers that are exclusive to Africa, with the upstairs space playing host to a revolving door of pop-up boutiques featuring artist and designer installations. Bold, vivacious, unconventional, de Cárdenas has done it again…
Photography: floto + warner
