This concept stems from an ambition to shed fresh light on the oft-overlooked culture of experimentation and eclecticism within the canon of Canadian architecture; a counterpoint to the proliferation of staid modernist buildings evident in seminal mid-20th Century projects.

The term radical is defined as an extreme, a force affecting the fundamental nature of an entity. Balance denotes the condition in which different elements are equal or in correct proportion. Bypassing safe, middle of the road thinking, one can extraordinarily heighten the quality of something by smashing it together with its opposite. Bold tones appear far more saturated when they collide with neutrals.

With this approach, the space reintroduces the ever relevant notion of site-responsivity and place-making—but also joy, warmth, and excitement—back to brick and mortar retail. Through the meticulous juxtaposition of colour, material, texture, and pattern, as well as several fully-integrated commissioned art installations, Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street flagship comprises a cleverly programmed spatial distribution of product vignettes—displaying a diverse but also complementary gamut of quiet and avant-garde luxury Men’s apparel, accessories, shoes, and grooming; unisex seasonal collections, denim, and an area dedicated to multi-brand activations. One aspect of this strategy was to create a sense of fluidity between these “magnetic zones” especially as customers are expected to shop across the offering.

Other components include the multi-functional fitting rooms—anything but hidden from the rest of the action as is standard elsewhere. The aim was to avoid the pitfalls of the all-to-common marble palace with segmented counters, rows of shelving and overbearing drywall ceilings. Instead, the approach was to develop a refreshed typology for today’s premium retail market that centres on flexibility, play, and wonder.