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For the uninitiated, Headfoneshop is easy to miss.
To answer those questions, the firm developed a simple yet dramatic grid of 255 powder-coated metal plates, mounted to the wall using 765 pieces of oxidized brass hardware. Protruding from Headfoneshop’s surfaces like the open pages of a book, some of the laser-cut petals – which are backlit by dimmable LEDS – are angled to display product, while others are decorative. Together, they form pyramid-like structures along the store’s ceilings and walls, resulting in a spatial experience that flows and ripples as visitors navigate the nearly bus shelter–sized space. “It’s very simple,” says Batay-csorba. “But it produced larger effects.”
As the lights dim to amber, Batay-csorba’s dramatic display recedes, an effect that makes headsets by B&O, NAD and Grado appear to hover. For the uninitiated, this audiophile oasis is easy to miss – but for those in the know, it’s unmissable. HEADFONESHOP.COM; BATAY-CSORBA.COM
Tucked into a Yonge–sheppard condo at ground level, it’s worlds away from Yorkville’s tony audiophile boutiques. Here, its neighbours are bustling dim sum joints and mobile accessory depots. But entering the 27.8-square-metre store is like crossing into another universe: herringbone flooring and smoked-oak millwork lend an intimate, jazz-club feel. Tactile velvet upholstery lines one wall, inviting visitors to linger. And headphones hang on delicately curved plates that arch toward the ceiling – a feature that’s part art installation, part dragon skin. Daenerys Targaryen, we imagine, would approve.
The store, says Batay-csorba Architects’ Andrew Batay-csorba, demanded a unique approach. Unlike most retail projects, which encourage quick browsing, Headfoneshop offers a deliberately unhurried experience, encouraging listeners to test headsets with different amplifiers and different musical genres. It’s a place designed for audio obsessives who care about one thing: the listening ritual. “So,” adds Batay-csorba, “how do you display those headphones? What do you do with the cords? What’s the best view?”