earlier this year, notre ? a fashion and streetwear retail brand ? re-opened its flagship location in chicago?s west loop. designed by architecture firm norman kelley, the remodeling has resulted in an increased floor area that enabled the store to dedicate space to womenswear for the first time. with the addition of a publications room housing a curated selection of books and magazines, and a stepped vestibule that functions as a meeting space or micro-auditorium, the redesign offers an unprecedented degree of flexibility that allows for cultural programming and community engagement.

all images by chris leh
 
 
notre?s flagship is located on the first floor of a building that was originally constructed in 1906, and once served as a manufacturer of tin pans for commercial bakeries. more recently, the space was a commercial art gallery that represented artists such as michael rakowitz, torkwase dyson, and jenny holzer. ?to accommodate its layered history, notre aims to replace its warehouse-gallery origins with a domestic enfilade, or series of intimately interconnected low-ceiling rooms that accommodate varied products ? clothing, footwear, publications, apothecary ? and varied events ? reading, lecture, transaction,? says norman kelley, a chicago- and new orleans-based firm led by carrie norman and thomas kelley.
 
 
after entering through a 13-foot tall door, visitors are greeted with a transitional space that once functioned as a loading dock. clad with 4,645 loca...