2025 | Professional

NY Architectural Design Awards Silver Winner Winner

Erosion & Formation

Entrant Company

Ivan Kuo

Category

Student Design - Interior Design

Client's Name

Cotopaxi

Country / Region

United States

Cotopaxi Savannah is a modular pop-up retail space designed to embody the outdoor gear brand’s ethos of sustainability, adventure, and connection, while seamlessly integrating into its surroundings. Located in Savannah’s Generator Hall, a venue rich in luxurious fossils and geological textures, the design draws from Cotopaxi’s origins and the natural erosion processes that carve valleys and reveal hidden beauty, such as crystals within stone. This metaphor becomes both a conceptual anchor and a material strategy.



From a distance, visitors encounter two copper-clad wooden structures with a skeletal, weathered appearance. Their raw, geological form contrasts with the surrounding space, evoking mystery and a sense of ancient history. This visual intrigue draws passersby closer, compelled by the rich textures and metallic glint reminiscent of natural terrain or a buried artifact.



As visitors approach, they are guided into the carved interior of the structure, transitioning from passive observers to active participants. The skeletal frame, mirroring the suspended, chromatic dinosaur fossil above, frames their path through the space, enriching the Generator Hall’s paleontological narrative. Inside, translucent touchscreens on one side showcase global adventures captured by Cotopaxi users, fostering connection and inspiring exploration. Opposite, a gallery of photographs by Savannah-based artists tells stories of their own journeys, each taken while adventuring with Cotopaxi gear, celebrating local beauty and encouraging cultural dialogue.



Display fixtures take the form of sculptural, organic shapes that double as seating and product presentation, embodying Cotopaxi’s goal of getting closer to people. Designed for easy assembly and transport, these modular elements reduce emissions and support flexible deployment across locations. This approach reflects Cotopaxi’s mission to “Do Good” by minimizing environmental impact and maximizing social engagement.



Ultimately, Cotopaxi Savannah is more than a retail experience, it is a journey. From distant curiosity to meaningful connection, it transforms shopping into a narrative exploration of nature, place, and purpose, carved through the language of erosion and rooted in shared human adventure.

Credits

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