F

or this project we renovated an old 2 storey local shop which had a very tight footprint and little light coming through. We decided to keep the structure and “dress it up”. The design adopts elements of the industrial material palette of the other stores belonging to the same brand in order to maintain continuity but seeks to create a new look and feel through the use of custom graphics, recycled elements and foliage.

Concept, layout and materials

The store sits on the street, giving the impression of two stacked boxes, rotated on their axis. This illusion works to effectively capture the attention of passing traffic from both directions. The boxes are given their form with the use of a black steel frame, infilled with a mesh and be-jewelled with thousands of recycled aluminium cans. The screen act as a sunshade while providing a network for creeping plants to grow. The cans create a striking effect from the street, a sparkling repetition of circular forms that only reveal themselves as recycled components upon closer inspection.

Sustainable design

The small building footprint demanded a careful treatment of the space, in order to make the space appear as large as possible, even when full of merchandise.  A giant angular void was cut in the centre of the space, which provided a vast double-volume filled with natural light. A custom “chandelier” dominates the void – a combination of gently glowing oversized bulbs and a series of found objects converted into hanging planters.  Mirrors are used extensively within the space to further enhance the perception of the void and the natural light it provides.

‍