Prada

03/13/06

Cutting-edge fashion inside Rodeo Drive's most progressive building.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
The goods of the Italian clothing, footwear and accessories company play supporting roles in this architectural gem designed by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren of OMA. There's no sign on the exterior, but with the width of its ground floor open to Rodeo Drive it's not exactly hiding. Moving from street to store requires crossing over subterranean display cases showing off sexy new arrivals.

The Goods
Luggage and women's shoes take up what first-floor space isn't dominated by the rise and run of the wave-like central staircase. The second story displays women's wear along a pocked green shell of a perimeter. The third floor (reached by a small, sidelined staircase) shows off men's shoes, suits and sportswear, as well as a panoramic view of Beverly Hills from behind a floor-to-ceiling plate-glass window that echoes the width of the ground-floor entrance.