A seamless blend with Shanghai’s vibrant streets
AIM Architecture has crafted a unique Zara flagship store on Huaihai Road in Shanghai, set apart by its striking brick podium extending into the bustling street. The design of this flagship establishment creates an inviting amphitheatre environment where pedestrians can pause and engage with the urban landscape, enriching their shopping experience.
Preserving architectural heritage in the store
The team at AIM Architecture maintained the building’s original concrete framework, seamlessly integrating it into the design to reflect Zara’s move towards more open, flexible environments. This approach transforms the five-storey structure into a dynamic exploration space without overshadowing its inherent character.
Innovative interior and exterior connections
An internal brick podium mirrors the outdoor amphitheatre, functioning as both seating and display. This continuation of design language bridges the outside with the contemporary interior, enhancing thematic coherence between public and private spaces.
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Diverse fashion experiences at the flagship store
The store’s interiors are meticulously designed to match the distinct styles of Zara’s collections across five floors. From a warehouse-like ambiance for the TRF collection to an art-gallery experience for women’s fashion, each area offers a tailored shopping environment within the store.
Crafting masculinity in retail
The men’s floor is a masterful fusion of tradition and modernity. Divided into a craftsman’s atelier and a Shanghai-inspired loft, it provides a personalized retail journey. Surrounding fitting rooms covered in mirrors amplify the space, enhancing the immersive shopping experience at this location.
Raw aesthetics with refined finishes
Exposed concrete structures and polished floors lend an industrial feel to the space, softened by timber and linen elements. Flexible furniture designs support seasonal adaptability, ensuring the space evolves dynamically with fashion trends at the store.
A vision for future retail spaces
The redesigned staircase, complete with a sculptural aesthetic and sophisticated lighting, is a focal point of this innovative project that merges commerce and community. AIM Architecture’s venture in this location showcases a modern retail environment enriched by cultural and communal engagement.
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The architectural force behind the transformation
Founded by Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf, AIM Architecture has a global presence with offices in Shanghai, Antwerp, Hong Kong, and Chicago. Their award-winning portfolio includes transforming traditional spaces and creating culturally infused environments.
Project credits:
Ground floor area: 3,500 square metres
Design principals: Wendy Saunders, Vincent de Graaf
Studio director: Sacha Silva
Project architects: Ewa Szajda, Ruiqi Zhou
Architectural/Interior team: Elaine Wang, Feiwei Ni, Fenna Regenboog, Gwenn Huriaux, Jerry Guo, Jiaxing Xiong, Junger Xia, Minwoo Ian Yang, Ruben Vanvlasselaer, Suheng Li, Wei Zheng, David Smedley
Visualisation: Jiao Yan
General contractor: Shanghai Choyoin Construction Group Co Ltd
Facade contractor: Caamaño Asia (KunShan) Furniture and Complements Co Ltd (glass), Shanghai Qiuyuan Hualin Construction Group Co Ltd
Landscape contractor: Shanghai Xinduo Floral Co Ltd
Furniture: Caamaño Asia (KunShan) Furniture and Complements Co Ltd
Lighting supplier: Fagerhult
Audiovisual supplier: TrisonAudio Asia (Kunshan) Co Ltd
Source: dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
How does the Shanghai Zara store blend with the streets?
AIM Architecture crafted a unique Zara flagship store with a striking brick podium that extends into the bustling street, creating an inviting amphitheatre environment where pedestrians can pause and engage with the urban landscape.
How did AIM Architecture preserve the store’s architectural heritage?
The team maintained the original concrete framework of the building, seamlessly integrating it into the design without overshadowing its inherent character, reflecting Zara’s move towards more open, flexible environments.
What unique feature connects the interior and exterior designs of the store?
An internal brick podium mirrors the outdoor amphitheatre, functioning as both seating and display, bridging the outside with the contemporary interior and enhancing thematic coherence between public and private spaces.