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A project by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) led by four partners, Rem Koolhaas, Ole Scheeren, Ellen van Loon and Joshua Ramus, the Prada Los Angeles Epicenter store was designed by architects Rem Koolhass and Ole Scheeren.

The executive architects of the project were Brand and Allen Architects who have designed fashion stores such as the A/X Armani Exchange and Gucci.

In the book, “Prada – Projects for Prada Part I/ OMA/ AMO” edited by Rem Koolhaas, Miuccia Prada, Patrizio Bertelli & Jens Hommert, there is an in-depth treatise on the development of the Prada Epicenter stores in Tokyo, New York, San Francisco and Beverly Hills

To quote the Prada book the Epicenters were based upon the “desire to study and develop the concept and the function of the shopping and communications spaces in an experimental and innovative way.” OMA practices contemporary architecture, urbanism and cultural analysis.

Created by Rem Koolhaas, AMO develops new models of thinking and helps develop blueprints for change sometimes centering on new technology even corporate identities.

OMA, on the other hand functions as a research office involved in the study of cultural changes in approach to architectural or virtual domains increasingly involving questions of organization, identity, culture and program partially due to the new worlds of media.

OMA & AMO often collaborate but work independently as well.

Seeing that Miuccia Prada was an editor of the Prada Projects book it fit well with the new architectural path of her families fashion empire. Holding a doctorate in political science, Miuccia Prada has a strong intellectual bent and is a supportive of the arts as can be seen by books she has been associated with about Barry McGee, Marc Quinn, Mariko Mori, Carsten Holler and Walter de Maria.

One can imagine she was stimulated by the academic and innovative design and technological approach to the Prada Epicenters by OMA & AMO. She herself of course is a talented, inventive and successful designer; brains and artist in one package.

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