When MAAP opened its Collingwood-based headquarters, all eyes were on the space. Contemporary and raw, the new destination struck a balance between machined precision and a material rawness that fused with the brand’s aesthetic.
Designed by Clare Cousins Architects, the space occupies an early 1900s soap factory and embellishes the mechanical aesthetics that have remained throughout the century. Exposed pipes and industrial lights are framed by the clerestory glazed roof, with a specific approach to the symmetrical design.
“Occupying a new development in the ex-industrial end of Collingwood, the flagship store wilfully expresses the raw characteristics of the building’s concrete and blockwork shell,” says Clare Cousins Architects founder and director, Clare Cousins.
“Spatially, the store’s operations are defined by a robust yet highly finished steel perimeter. The assemblage conveys the atmosphere of a meticulous workshop – a place in which design, performance, and cycling converge to form a community.”
The free-flowing design reflects MAAP’s ambition to represent the creativity of athletes, namely the ingenuity of the innovative design behind the sport of cycling.
The architectural forms of the project breathe life into the space, with a variety of materiality and scale, from private rooms, to offices, meeting rooms and booths with soft curtains aimed at individual focus.
“The space had to be really experiential and immersive,” says Oliver Cousins, co-founder of MAAP. “We see a lot of buzz and conversation going down with our online community, and we can’t wait to bring people together to meaningfully connect in a physical space.
“As a vibrant alt-cultural hub in its own right, Collingwood is the perfect neighbourhood to realise that vision. Our MAAP crew can’t wait to welcome everyone into the store and share our passion for cycling over a coffee or beer.”
Clare Cousins Architects
Photography
Dan Preston and Tim Harris
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