Piers Atkinson’s - The Labyrinth
A pop-up retail experience imagined as a theatrical journey through the surreal world of British milliner Piers Atkinson.
The Labyrinth transforms retail into a stage - where fashion, fantasy and spatial design collide.
The Theatrical Encounter
Stepping into The Labyrinth is like entering a stage mid-performance.
This concept draws on the surreal theatricality of Piers Atkinson’s millinery and invites visitors to lose themselves in a dreamlike spatial narrative.
With references to optical illusion, circular motifs, and unexpected transitions, the experience was designed to feel both familiar and fantastical — much like stepping through the looking glass or falling down the rabbit hole.
Through the Looking Glass: Spatial Transformation
Concept sketch- Narrative begins. a theatrical swirl of movement, form and mystery - a sketch that initiates the journey.
Concept Sketch- Spatial Flow. Layered motion and circular logic to inform spatial choreography.
Paper Concept model. An abstracted Labyrinth takes form in physical spaces - folded and curved paper, tight corridors, implied performance.
Initial Floor Plan - The sketch solidifies - geometry balances whimsy with structure in a defined plan.
Foam Core model with Arched Entry. Material and scale come into play - the entry gestures towards immersion and illusion.
Sectional Axonometric. Inside the volume: theatrical moments rendered in line work, showcasing layered activities and curved forms.
Vignette of Discovery. A closer slice of the interior reveals layered textures, playful forms and unexpected silhouettes - inviting exploration from every angle.
Final Reveal. The space opens up in full- merging whimsical form with theatrical function. A spatial crescendo captures the surreal spirit of performance.
Perspective Exterior View. A sculptural facade draws visitors into a surreal world - its arches hinting at the theatrical journey within.
Floor plan. the plan reveals the spatial choreography of The Labyrinth. - curves, thresholds and moments of pause designed for immersive discovery.
Rendered Entry - Exterior View. A bold entry beckons - an invitation to step through the looking glass.
Rendered Interior elevation. Inside, the narrative unfolds with layered objects. reflections and shifting perspectives.
The Labyrinth. It stands complete - enigmatic, theatrical and ready to draw the curious in.
Designing Illusion: A Spatial Reflection
“I can’t go back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
— Alice, “Through the Looking-Glass
The Labyrinth is more than an installation — it’s an invitation to step outside the expected and into a story woven from illusion, fashion, and form. Designed as a spatial metaphor for theatrical immersion, every detail was crafted to distort, delight, and disorient in equal measure.
From mirrored portals and distorted thresholds to curated sightlines and sensory contrast, the installation dissolves boundaries between art, architecture, and audience. Like Piers Atkinson’s millinery, it’s bold, layered, and never quite what it seems.
This project explores how design can evoke wonder not just through aesthetics, but through narrative structure — a spatial script that reveals itself as visitors move, pause, and reflect.
