High Point, North Carolina—This month, visitors to the High Point Market seeking fresh resources have another building to check out. It’s a five-minute walk from the International Home Furnishings Center and promises a community-like atmosphere with lots of natural light and up-and-coming brands.
Rudi Nijssen and Dominique Sente of Schwung came up with the idea for the new showroom building, which is named 313 Space and is situated at 313 S. Centennial St. Originally, they were looking for a showroom for their business, but they ended up buying a former hosiery mill and turning it into a 155,000 square foot multi-brand showcase.
“We wanted features for our own showroom, so we looked for a building that offered natural light, greenery, comfort, access to healthy food, and outdoor spaces,” they stated. We came to see that other people might also profit from this kind of encounter, which felt more personal and deliberate. We’ve hosted a wide variety of exhibitors in the past, and each time was a pleasure. As soon as we started, it was obvious that we wanted to build an environment that had a sense of community.
The structure, which was constructed in 1901 for The High Point Buggy Co. and later served as the location of the Slane Hosiery Mill, is situated on six acres and can accommodate both temporary and permanent showrooms.
According to consultant Alex Bates, two companies—Schwung and Dedon—will have ground floor showrooms for their antiques and 10,000 square feet for Dedon’s U.S. headquarters. Bates continued by saying that the structure would highlight outdoor living during this event. Gloster Design, Gray Gardens, Harbour, Mecox Gardens, and Roolf Living—a brand new to the American market—are among the other brands at 313 Space. However, a variety of product categories, such as furniture, textiles, wallcoverings, antiques, decorative accessories, and more, will be displayed by the exhibitors.
According to them, one of their favorite features of the new area is the entrance, which was created by Sente-Nijssen and their architect, John Pears, “while blending it with modern elements, which makes the building feel welcoming yet grand.” The light, the wooden floors, and the original windows all contribute to the building’s unique character and charm. Although it was a lovely task, we believe we have ready the structure to last for another century and leave a lasting legacy as a striking illustration of how industrial design never goes out of style.
According to Nijssen and Sente-Nijssen, “we want 313 Space to have a good, welcoming feeling that inspires and supports creativity.” “This building will act as a hub for like-minded individuals in the furniture and design industries to connect, work together, and find solutions.”
Two other new exhibitors at the High Point Market are the Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design|The New School, which will also hold a panel during market, and a pop-up shop with ten South African artists.
Furthermore, according to Bates, there will be more additions in the future, including a greenhouse, a community garden, and a farm-to-table restaurant. There will be two bars and a couple food trucks at this market for culinary options.
