Every building supports a certain kind of life, and sometimes that life is larger than the building itself.  The new Nicola Formichetti pop-up by Gage/Clemenceau Architects, constructed under the auspices of BOFFO for Fashion Week, is like that, crushing the boundary between theater and architecture.  A typical storefront space on a quiet TriBeCa sidestreet, it’s lined inside with faceted mirror acrylic panels.  Stepping inside is like stepping into another universe with its own peculiar logic of vision and light.  The ceiling armature, which is symmetrically and elegantly conceived, like the body of a racing car, returns reflections in complex ways that confound perspective.

The giddy, gaudy effect is that of an exclusive, underground discotheque.  There are, on display, costumes Formichetti devised for Lady Gaga and mannequins he styled for Uniqlo.  And there is, for sale, jewelry and clothing he’s curated, including a rack of vintage 1990’s Versace printed silk shirts.  There’s also a live DJ, monitors showing Formichetti-styled runway shows and music videos, and, acting as doorman, Rico “Zombie Boy."  When I visited, on a sunny Monday afternoon, there were groups of splendidly attired Gaga fans and fashionistas inside, just standing around being fabulous.  It’s a very high level of theater, made possible by a very high level of architecture.