beauty call

The retail environment is just as important as the featured products. The space is another extension of the brand’s identity – a facilitator of a deeper experience and an important channel to further communicate the brand message. Duh, you might say. But what seems so obvious is so often overlooked. Fortunately, the trend in retail design seems to be focused on creating true synergy between the products and the environment they are presented in. 

1. Jewellery Mayrhofer

image courtesy of dezeen

Jewellery Mayrhofer – a jewelry store in Linz, Austria – features carpeted walls and ceilings. The ‘skin’ is the ideal presentation surface for jewels. Thus, the carpet translates the qualities of the skin, enveloping the space in a sensuous embrace and presenting the perfect backdrop for all jewels. Jewelry is displayed in 4 wooden boxes that function as display windows and storage while symbolizing treasure chests. 

2.  Salon Mittermeir

image courtesy of dezeen

Created by the same architects as Jewellery Mayrhofer, Xarchitekten, Salon Mittermeir “features a facade with a ’3-dimensional architectural (hair) wave.’” Meant to represent a hair shaft, this undulating facade serves as an effective business sign – immediately capturing the attention of all who pass by. The undulating facade also serves as a curtain over the front window to offer privacy to the clients inside. 

3. St. Henry’s Ecumenical Art Chapel

image courtesy of travelwithfrankgehry

Now I’m not particularly religious, but its hard to deny the beauty of this Chapel in Finland. Built in the shape of a boat, “the boat is an important symbol for the project, expressing the idea of community traveling towards the same goal.” The idea behind this design was that of a quiet journey from west-east. The entrance is on the west side, and as you walk towards the altar (east) the lighting gets brighter. With few religious symbols, the space provides a naked interior  to allow for quiet reflection. Perfectly capturing the spiritual journey, now this is a place I wouldn’t mind going to every Sunday.