Work New York City Retail

VIDA canopy

Front view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture

Marquee Moment

A canopy has two functions: to protect and to attract. For Vida Shoes International, on West 56th, DF&A’s brief was to design a canopy as broad as the city would permit, to protect guests and employees from rain and sun. But it also had to be a beautiful object, elegant and inviting. And since Vida was housed in a historic building, DF&A wanted to respect the materiality of the original construction while not trying to match or mimic it.


The resulting canopy is a cantilevered panel of custom fabricated brushed metal. A tapered edge salutes approaching pedestrians, revealing a custom-designed logo etched into the brass. The angles of the “V” and “A” in the logo’s lettering echo graphically across the underside of the canopy, which is illuminated by  hidden LED lights. It’s a simple, striking, and modern response to a historic context.

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Section view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Branding on the corner of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Sidewalk view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Sidewalk diagram of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Section diagram of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Description of materials and processes of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Front view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Front view plan of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Sidewalk view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Sidewalk view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Section view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
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Section view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
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Section view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Section view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Branding on the corner of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Sidewalk view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Sidewalk diagram of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Section diagram of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Description of materials and processes of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Front view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
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Front view plan of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
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Sidewalk view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
Previous Slide
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Sidewalk view of the Vida Shoes International canopy project for the shop located at 29 West 56th Street in Midtown, New York City designed by the architecture studio Danny Forster & Architecture
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