Splash Lab LA Showroom Architecture: A Harmonious Fusion of Monumentality and Design

Redefining Showroom Design in Los Angeles

The Splash Lab LA Showroom, conceptualized by McLaren Excell, is a masterful architectural intervention within a 1930s factory unit. Tasked with creating a flagship space for The Splash Lab's U.S. operations, the project emphasizes materiality, spatial hierarchy, and experiential design. The result is a showroom that seamlessly integrates product display with architectural elements, transforming the space into a journey of tactile discovery and visual revelation.

Creating a Spatial Journey

The design centers on reestablishing the visual axis disrupted by previous modifications to the building. McLaren Excell implemented a series of monumental insertions to guide visitors through the space. The journey begins at the entrance portal arch, transitioning into the gallery, where six distinct areas are connected by large archways. These interventions echo themes of spirituality and ritual cleansing, evoking the structure and ambiance of cathedrals.

Each section of the showroom has a specific function, marked by differences in materiality, positioning, and product integration. The culmination of the journey occurs at the triple-arched apse, an axial focal point that concludes the spatial narrative.

Monumental Materiality and Timeless Design

The Splash Lab LA Showroom balances tactility and presence without overshadowing the existing industrial fabric of the building. The muted material palette, including Danish-format bricks bonded with German Ziegal Geschlammt mortar, creates monolithic surfaces that feel timeless and rooted. A concrete plinth grounds the brick structures, establishing a relationship between the rough permanence of the brickwork and the smooth, transitional quality of plaster display backdrops.

A Functional and Interactive Space

The design incorporates functionality into its monumental structure. The transept area, featuring a sculptural steel table, serves as the central altar for interactive displays and formal seminars. This area fosters participation, blending the experiential with the practical. Public and private spaces are clearly demarcated by a screen, with staff meeting rooms situated in the private section.

An Architectural Canvas for The Splash Lab

McLaren Excell's approach ensures that the architecture complements rather than competes with The Splash Lab’s products. The subdued color palette and careful exploration of material textures allow the products to remain the focal point. The space celebrates the intersection of materials, light, and proportion, making it both a showroom and an architectural statement.

A New Benchmark in Retail Architecture

The Splash Lab LA Showroom redefines the traditional showroom format by integrating monumental architecture with product display. It transcends its role as a retail space to become a holistic experience, where materials, design, and function harmonize to elevate the brand.

All Photographs are work of Jason Rueger