Benchmarks

Recently the editors of instore started noticing a pretty cool trend — stores that incorporate diamond replicas or gemo-logical shapes right into their archi-tecture. As architect Dave Erdmann, chief designer at Erdmann Street Architecture and Planning of Springfield, MO, explains it, "If you're going to have a jewelry store, you ought to look like one." (Whatever happened to the simple clock in the town square?) Erdmann says that with a little planning and some creative ingenuity, such innovative designs can be incorporated into a store's construction without too much difficulty. And once completed, the creations can enhance a building's presence in the community. Check out the following ideas for creating your own architectural gems.  — Fred Michmershuizen