22RE – the Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary practice – was enlisted to design the West Coast flagship of AKILA Eyewear in collaboration with AKILA. Situated in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, the store’s overall design motif emphasizes Japanese craftsmanship through a blend of natural materials and a focus on modern precision.

The recently completed art deco complex is nestled inside a reimagined former auto body shop from the 1930s – which serendipitously matches 22RE and AKILA’s own brand ethos of creating classic designs with modern sensibilities.

Influenced by a trip to the country, Dean Levin – Founding Principal of 22RE – and the studio looked to infuse the space with the feeling of a ryokan, a type of traditional Japanese inn. Invoking these structures, the studio incorporated translucent materials, grids and a curved soffit, reminiscent of shoji sliding doors. The soffit and skylights also serve as a red thread, subtly nodding to the design of AKILA’s first retail store in New York.

While 22RE incorporated the original vaulted roof into their design, a large cross truss was added to lower the lighting and allow for the ceiling to be exposed. Further engaging with the industrial quality of the original space, the studio flanked the program along the walls, which feature custom-built pendant and glass block display units that will hold AKILA’s merchandise.