Bershka unveils a new flagship store in the heart of Ibiza, redefining the traditional retail concept with a sculptural, sensorial space conceived as a living environment. Developed in collaboration with architecture and interior design studio El Departamento, the store departs from conventional retail typologies, positioning itself as a hybrid environment influenced by the island’s social and cultural context and resonating with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Located at Avinguda Bartomeu de Roselló, 28–30, the project is organized into two distinct volumes with independent entrances; BERSHKA Woman covering 354 sqm, and BERSHKA Man occupying 126 sqm. Each space is designed with its own narrative, carefully curated to enhance user experience and create a sense of discovery.

all images courtesy of Bershka

El Departamento opts for neutral and tactile Materials

In the women’s store, circulation is structured around a large-scale mint-green metal installation referred to as El Lingote (‘The Ingot’). This linear intervention slices through the interior, functioning simultaneously as a catwalk, display system, and immersive experience. As customers move through the space, El Lingote reveals curated vignettes, culminating in a fitting room area bathed in translucent pink light, playful, enveloping, and unmistakably designed for social sharing. The men’s store, while more compact in surface area, utilizes verticality in the form of a double-height volume to generate spatial impact. A central column serves as the organizing element, around which custom-designed furniture is arranged to define pathways and spatial zones. Material variation and directional green lighting characterize the fitting rooms, reinforcing a distinct identity within the overall store experience.

For both interiors, the design team employs a restrained material palette focused on neutrality and tactility. Finishes include limestone, sprayed concrete, white acrylic, and terrazzo marble flooring. Lighting systems are calibrated to balance immersive effects with functional clarity, combining directional and diffused sources.

Bershka’s new Ibiza flagship redefines the retail experience as a living environment

El Departamento designs configurable store space for Bershka

Externally, the facade establishes continuity between the two volumes through a shared limestone treatment differentiated by tone, lighter on the women’s store and cooler grey on the men’s. A unified canopy bridges the two entrances, creating a visual and architectural link between the spaces.

The new Bershka Ibiza Flagship Store by El Departamento presents a redefinition of the retail environment as a configurable and multi-layered platform. Rather than emphasizing transactional function alone, the design incorporates elements that encourage exploration, engagement, and extended use. The result is a cohesive system of architectural and interior gestures that aligns with the brand’s evolving retail strategy.

designed by El Departamento, the space blurs boundaries between store and cultural venue

BERSHKA Woman covers 354 sqm, anchored by a central sculptural installation

El Lingote, a mint-green metal structure, slices through the women’s store

part catwalk, part display, El Lingote doubles as an immersive spatial framework

curated vignettes unfold along El Lingote, enhancing user navigation and discovery

a translucent pink-lit fitting room concludes the women’s store journey

each area within the flagship is conceived as part of a layered architectural system

BERSHKA Man occupies 126 sqm, using verticality to maximize spatial impact

the men’s store features a double-height volume centered around a structural column

custom-designed furniture in the men’s store defines spatial circulation

material choices, like limestone, terrazzo, concrete, and acrylic, focus on neutrality and tactility

green lighting and textural materials give the men’s fitting rooms a distinct identity

project info:

name: Bershka Ibiza Flagship Store

architect: El Departamento | @eldepartamento.estudio

lead architects: Alberto Eltini & Marina Martín

client: Bershka | @bershka

area Bershka Woman: 354 sqm
area Bershka Man: 126 sqm

location: Avinguda Bartomeu de Roselló, 28–30, Ibiza, Spain

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Temp Project designs a new showroom for eroticwear brand Anoeses, its quiet presence discovered along one of Kyiv’s busiest fashion corridors. Rather than shouting for attention, the project draws the gaze inward, beneath the street level, into a semi-subterranean space that feels distinctly separate from the city above. Inside, the air cools, sounds soften, and the mood shifts. It is in this subtle transition that Temp Project’s design for the Anoeses showroom begins to unfold.

The building itself, dating back to 1911 and designed by architect Altarzhevsky, holds a calm gravity. Choosing to place a flagship showroom in its semi-basement gives the Anoeses brand a setting that already speaks in undertones. From here, Temp Project crafted a spatial language that balances restraint with provocation, using raw materiality and shaped light to reflect the nature of the brand without ever overstating it.

images © Yevhenii Avramenko

the anoeses showroom unfolds in three zones

Anastasiia Tempynska, founder of Temp Project, designs the Anoeses showroom to feel like a gentle enclosure, an emotionally safe place where visitors in Kyiv can explore. The designers approach the interior as an atmosphere before anything else, working with concrete, metal, and soft lighting to develop a sense of privacy and slow movement. Mirrors catch the eye and redirect it. Walls curve, lighting narrows, and the space unfolds in a sequence of impressions.

From the entrance, the layout moves across three zones. Each area is tied to a particular aspect of the Anoeses collection — fabric and corsets first, followed by latex and leather, and then a sculptural fitting room. The progression ends in a winter garden, a greenhouse room that feels strangely detached from the outside world. Here, a leather swing hangs in the light, surrounded by plants that grow upward through the stillness. It feels like an afterimage from a dream.

the Anoeses showroom occupies a semi-basement space in a historic Kyiv building designed in 1911

brutalist-inspired interiors reflect in mirrored surfaces

Throughout the Anoeses showroom in Kyiv, mirrored surfaces shift the spatial experience. A ceiling mirror above the reception desk doubles the height of the room while subtly bouncing light across the polished concrete floor. Another, spherical and inset into the wall, distorts the room in a way that recalls security mirrors and voyeuristic film stills. The interior design is playful, but it also brings in the idea of being watched, of watching yourself — of control, performance, and power.

Furniture pieces are treated as sculptural objects. The central table in the leather and latex room was built from charred wood and enclosed in glass, more like an artifact than a counter. Inside it lies a copy of Sex by Madonna, photographed by Steven Meisel. The book is displayed page by page, each turned monthly. Its presence anchors the room, serving as both relic and reference point.

‘While working on the showroom, I was traveling in Switzerland,’ Tempynska recalls. ‘I think that’s why there’s a quiet brutality to the space. I was very moved by Peter Zumthor’s work — his ability to use texture, shadow, and silence. That influence found its way into how I approached this project.’ Though the Anoeses brand is provocative, its new showroom leans into understatement. The architecture carries its intensity through restraint.

raw materials and sculptural forms create a mood-driven and emotionally private retail space

Materials throughout the showroom are deliberately elemental. There’s a dryness to the concrete, a cold sheen to the metal fixtures, and a calculated sharpness in the contrast between soft forms and spiked accents. Clothing racks blend into architectural gestures. The fitting rooms draw on the corset as a formal reference, their curved walls embracing the body in a spatial parallel to the garments they’re made to hold.

Lighting is used not to highlight, but to conceal. A series of dim scenarios let the materiality lead: recessed fixtures along the ceiling, backlit arches, narrow spotlights over the shelves. The cumulative effect is immersive. Without overstating its function, the space creates a mood that aligns more with a meditative gallery than a traditional retail setting. In place of overt display, there is suggestion.

the showroom unfolds across three connected rooms, culminating in a greenhouse with a leather swing

fitting rooms reference corset forms, echoing the structure and intimacy of the garments themselves

mirrors distort perception and reinforce themes of gaze, performance, and self-reflection

lighting is soft and indirect, creating a subdued atmosphere more akin to a gallery than a store

rounded silhouettes and sharp accents express the emotional dualities within the Anoeses brand

project info:

name: Anoeses Showroom
architect: Temp Project | @tempproject

location: Kyiv, Ukraine

client: Anoeses | @anoeses.brand

lead designer: Anastasiia Tempynska | @anastasiiatempynska

area: 116 square meters (1,249 square feet)

completion: 2024

photography: © Yevhenii Avramenko | @egnavrmnk

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: kat barandy | designboom

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In Barrel Swimwear Store project in Korea by Niiiz Design Lab, lighting is positioned as a central design strategy rather than a supplementary feature. Developed for a swimwear-focused brand, the project required a distinct approach from standard fashion retail environments. Lighting functions as a critical element in spatial composition, with variations in color temperature, intensity, and brightness directly influencing the perception of space.

Instead of adopting typical high ambient lighting to enhance product visibility, the design reduced general illumination to establish a subdued spatial quality. Focused lighting was applied within oversized fitting rooms, where users could evaluate products under conditions tailored for clarity and comfort. This zoning strategy emphasized the role of fitting areas as central to user experience, directing circulation toward them, and encouraging physical interaction with products.

reflective wave-patterned stainless steel panels on the ceiling visually expand the space | all images by Mong Sang

Niiiz Design Lab implements Indirect Light and Reflective Surfaces

To implement a low-light environment without conventional ceiling fixtures, Niiiz Design Lab’s team integrated indirect lighting within a linear sculptural installation extending along one wall. The installation, constructed from semi-translucent blue acrylic, references the concept of an indoor swimming pool. The material filters light softly across the surface, contributing to a cohesive spatial identity.

Ceiling treatment was aligned with the lighting concept and broader spatial narrative. Wave-patterned stainless steel panels were used to introduce reflectivity, which visually expands the compact volume and offsets the low ceiling height. This finish also supports the distribution of indirect light and contributes to the immersive underwater reference.

curved surface with continuous material finish eliminates visible boundaries between the walls and floor

Matte Finishes and Curved Transitions Enhance Spatial Balance

In contrast, flooring was designed to reduce reflectance. Matte mosaic tiles, evoking swimming pool surfaces, were selected to absorb rather than bounce light, ensuring balance in the lighting composition. The junctions between wall and floor surfaces were softened by using continuous materials and curved transitions, eliminating sharp visual boundaries and enhancing spatial coherence.

The resulting environment integrates lighting and material logic to support the brand’s identity and functional needs. The store’s design addresses site-specific constraints, including limited ceiling height and floor area, while delivering a spatial experience aligned with the swimwear category.

indirect lighting is embedded within a sculptural wall installation

the blue acrylic wall and ceiling evoke the sensation of being submerged underwater

lighting serves as the primary spatial strategy in Barrel Swimwear Store

large fitting rooms feature enhanced lighting for the best product evaluation

matte-finish mosaic tiles, reminiscent of pool tiles, absorb rather than reflect light from above and around

wave-patterned stainless steel panels mimic a body of water

the semi-translucent blue acrylic wall references the indoor pool concept

mosaic floor tiles reduce glare and evoke pool textures

curved detailing enhances spatial continuity and immersion

project info: 

name: Barrel_Swimwear Store

designer: Niiiz Design Lab | @official_niiizdesignlab

location: Korea

client: The Nature Holdings

construction: JHD Studio | @jhd_official

photographer: Mong Sang | @mongsang._

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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designboom joins designer Thomas Heatherwick and Longchamp CEO Jean Cassegrain inside the newly renovated Longchamp flagship, La Maison Unique, in New York. Ahead of the public opening, the duo reflects on their long-standing collaboration and presents the store’s intimate new interiors, nearly two decades after the building’s first transformation. The flagship was originally unveiled in 2006 as La Maison Unique. At that time, it marked one of Heatherwick Studio’s earliest works and has since remained a New York destination for design lovers with its ribbon-like staircase.

‘With this new space, we let loose a bit,‘ Heatherwick notes. ‘Now it has a sense of randomness which I’ve come to appreciate.’ Today, the renewed interiors offer an atmosphere that feels at once familiar and transformed. It is attuned to a different cultural rhythm, but is grounded in the same spirit of invention.

images courtesy Longchamp

a partnership which started with a bag

The partnership between Heatherwick Studio and Longchamp began not with a building in New York, but with a bag. ‘This project started back to front,’ Heatherwick recalls. ‘We’d made a bag built entirely of zip.’ The unlikely origin speaks to the designer‘s fascination with scale and material, a thread that carries through from product design, to architecture, to urban planning. Originally, the design of La Maison Unique faced an immediate dilemma — a compressed street-level footprint and an expansive upper floor. ‘We had to lure people upward,’ Heatherwick tells designboom. ‘That became the problem to solve.’ The result is a sweeping sculptural staircase, a ribbon-like hillside that cuts through the building and functions as both a circulation system and an interior landscape.

In its current iteration, this now-iconic staircase returns updated in the brand‘s Energy Green, further referencing the gently climbing hillside which it mimics. ‘We’re not retail designers,’ Heatherwick says. ‘Our passion is making places that connect with people’s emotions.’ His approach here is at once about the display and the journey.

Heatherwick’s Longchamp flagship reopens with renewed interiors nearly two decades after its 2006 debut

towards intimacy and randomness

Material gestures guide the experience throughout. Industrial columns are wrapped in carpeting which swells into swirling green rugs, an inversion of the expected. ‘Carpets want to be flat,’ Heatherwick reminds us. ‘So we wanted to do the opposite.’ The team worked with heritage French textile maker Lelièvre to wrap these structural elements in a tactile softness so that they blur the line between structure and furniture. In transforming an industrial space into a living room, Heatherwick Studio embraces these obstacles with a playful solution.

The second floor is curated with vintage mid-century pieces — croissant-shaped sofas, Gio Ponti tables, and Danish bar stools. Some furnishings were designed by Heatherwick’s team, while others were sourced to align with Longchamp’s postwar beginnings. ‘It’s a reference to the beginnings of our brand,‘ says Cassegrain. ‘And to the idea that retail doesn’t need to be rigid. The looseness makes it feel more like a home.’ Interspersed among the furniture are archival Longchamp objects, each bringing another layer of history and handcraft.

the new design retains the signature ribbon staircase, now in Energy Green to draw visitors upward

For Longchamp CEO Jean Cassegrain, the updated New York flagship, La Maison Unique, reflects how retail itself has changed over two decades. ‘We used to think in terms of efficiency,’ he explains. ‘Now we think in terms of comfort.’ The renewed space embraces this shift. The laminated logic no longer informs every decision. Instead, interiors open toward plush seating and vintage design objects. ‘We give more space to the customer,’ Cassegrain explained. ‘We want them to feel welcomed, and to linger.’ There is a sense that the store has transitioned from a dramatic display case to welcoming salon.

While many of Heatherwick Studio’s spatial ideas remain from the original 2006 intervention, the renovation of Longchamp’s New York flagship marks a tonal departure. ‘We were more rigid back then,’ said Heatherwick. ‘Everything followed a north-south logic. Now we’ve let go a little. There’s a softness, an ad-hocness.’ This evolution is intentional. Even the light now reaches deeper into the space, thanks to newly opened sightlines across the facade. Instead of controlling every gesture, the design now welcomes imperfections and interactions.

interiors blend structure with furniture and shelving that emerge from the floor and ceiling

carpeted columns created with French textile maker Lelièvre soften the industrial building

vintage furniture and archival objects reference Longchamp’s midcentury origins

the renewed space prioritizes comfort and emotional connection over efficiency

welcoming new interiors encourage lingering and social interaction

project info:

name: La Maison Unique

architecture: Heatherwick Studio | @officialheatherwickstudio

brand: Longchamp | @longchamp

location: 132 Spring Street, New York, NY

The post ‘we let loose a bit’: heatherwick studio renews iconic longchamp flagship in new york appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

In Chengdu’s Taikoo Li district, just steps from the Fountain Plaza, F.O.G. Architecture completes a serene boutique for Paris-based label Lemaire, marking the clothing brand’s first permanent store in China. Departing from storefront maximalism, the 140-square-meter space retreats quietly into its site, using a recessed facade and a ritualistic entry sequence to draw visitors into a spatial experience that reflects the philosophy of Lemaire.

Anchored by a unique ‘one step up, one step down’ circulation design, the boutique’s entrance introduces a buffer zone, where a landscaped interstice mirrors the under-eaves spaces of traditional Chinese architecture. This transitional moment sets the tone for the entire spatial narrative. The entry’s movable potted plants, placed in traditional local ‘sauce jars,’ speak to a grounded sense of Chengdu daily life and subtly reinterpret the domestic habit of indoor urban greenery.

all images by Wen Studio

bamboo and Moroccan Bejmat tiles take central stage

Materiality becomes the key storyteller at the Chinese Lemaire boutique, as multidisciplinary design studio F.O.G. Architecture orchestrates a dialogue between the ‘tangible’ and ‘intangible,’ with local bamboo taking center stage. From bamboo floors and curtains to stone textures evoking the woven tactility of bamboo, the palette balances honesty and abstraction. Echoing this approach, traditional Sichuan crafts, such as Yi-made Cha’erwa wool shawls repurposed as curtain panels and delicately woven Cizhu bamboo door handles’ form part of a collaborative design process between architects, artists, and regional artisans, ensuring contextual authenticity and alignment with the brand’s visual language.

The coexistence of local tradition and global aesthetics continues within. Moroccan Bejmat tiles, a signature Lemaire material, reference the greyscale tones of Chinese masonry, while construction details borrow from local architectural memory. Baseboards inspired by the wooden thresholds of the historic Du Fu Cao Tang are reimagined as soft transitions between surfaces. Even the overhead lintel becomes a functional design feature, doubling as a rail for displaying garments.

F.O.G. Architecture completes a serene boutique for Paris-based label Lemaire

the 140-square-meter space retreats quietly into its site

the boutique’s entrance introduces a buffer zone

materiality becomes the key storyteller at the Chinese Lemaire boutique

Moroccan Bejmat tiles reference the greyscale tones of Chinese masonry

a collaborative design process between architects, artists, and regional artisans

ensuring contextual authenticity and alignment with the brand’s visual language

construction details borrow from local architectural memory

baseboards inspired by the historic Du Fu Cao Tang are reimagined as transitions between surfaces

marking the clothing brand’s first permanent store in China

local bamboo takes central stage

subtly reinterpreting the domestic habit of indoor urban greenery

project info:

name: Lemaire | @lemaire Boutique 

architect: F.O.G. Architecture | @fogarchitecture

location: Chengdu, China

area: 140 square meters

design team: Zou Dejing, Wu Leilei, Tang Mo, Wang Shengqi, Xiong Aijie, Shu Shi, Han Daoyang, Huang Yingzi, Zhang Chi, Zhan Di, Zheng Yu

art consultant: Company Per Form | Gao Muxi, Wang Chang, Shi Xizhi, Cheng Yunwei

decoration consultant: SUNDAY PROJECT | Linda Wang

vintage furniture support: 20C GALLERY, Lonehorn Vintage Home, Habiter Apartment

structural consultant: JuanKou Structure | Tao Xinwei

lighting consultant: AURA Studio

general contractor: Beijing Youlong Jinsheng

project management: French House

photographer: Wen Studio | @wen_studio2020

The post lemaire’s first boutique in china by F.O.G. architecture fuses tranquility with cultural heritage appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The 2025 edition of the A’ Design Award and Competition celebrates 1805 winning entries from 115 countries across 157 creative disciplines. From spatial and product design to fashion, graphics, and digital innovation, the award recognizes outstanding projects and their creators worldwide. Among this diverse pool of winners, designboom presents a curated selection of award-winning architectural works — from residential buildings and transport hubs to cultural landmarks, hospitality, office, and commercial spaces — that stand out among the diverse winning entries.

Designers, studios, and brands can already submit their work for the upcoming 2026 edition — register here to join the next round of entries.

Mystical Serpent Light Art Installation by Phaidesign
image credit: DXIN

name: Mystical Serpent

designers: Jiewen Luo, Linhui Miao and Yanlong Li

award: Platinum

category: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design

EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVITY HONORED WITH THE A’ DESIGN PRIZE 

Announced annually on April 15, the A’ Design Award and Competition honors exceptional creativity across a wide range of design categories. A jury of design professionals, academics, press members, and entrepreneurs review thousands of submissions, ultimately selecting the best projects from all around the world. Winning projects are awarded the A’ Design Prize, which includes a physical trophy, award certificate, and publication in the annual yearbook. Winners also benefit from global exposure through press release distribution, a public relations campaign, and the right to use the A’ Design Award winner logo. Additionally, laureates are invited to participate in the winners’ exhibition and attend the gala-night and award ceremony in Italy.

The full list of winners is available here, along with interviews offering behind-the-scenes insights from select designers.

Awakening Immersive Experience by Nathalia Cristina de Souza Vilela Telis

image credit: Nathalia Cristina de Souza Vilela Telis

name: Awakening

architects: Nathalia Cristina de Souza Vilela Telis

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

OPENED DOORS FOR 2026 SUBMISSIONS

With the announcement of the winning designs in 2024 – 2025, creatives from all disciplines, including architecture, interiors, graphics, fashion, product design, and beyond, are invited to submit their best works for consideration as submissions to the 2026 edition are open. More details about the competition, evaluation process, jury members, and deadlines can be found on the official website.

Urban Symbiosis Mix Use Towers by Xiyao Wang
image credit: Xiyao Wang

name: Urban Symbiosis

architect: Xiyao Wang

award: Gold

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Twist Bridge Pedestrian Overpass by Ge Wang
image credit: Ge Wang

name: Twist Bridge

architect: Ge Wang

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Dongtou Passenger Port Cruise Terminal by Pengfei He
image credit: Pengfei He

name: Dongtou Passenger Port

architect: Pengfei He

award: Gold

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

DUSITANON Residence by Phaithaya Banchakitikun
image credit: Phaithaya Banchakitikun

name: DUSITANON

architect: Pengfei He

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Amazon Bus Station by Fernando Andrade
image credit: Fernando Andrade

name: Amazon

architect: Fernando Andrade

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Bumi Kinar Hotel And Resort by Tonny Wirawan Suriadjaja
image credit: Mario Wibowo

name: Bumi Kinar

architect: Tonny Wirawan Suriadjaja

award: Bronze

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Green Island Urban Power Substation by Xudong Zhu
image credit: Xudong Zhu

name: Green Island

architect: Xudong Zhu

award: Bronze

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Fuma House by Masakatsu Matsuyama
image credit: Toshihisa Ishii

name: Fuma

architect: Masakatsu Matsuyama

award: Platinum

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Bk Salon Restaurant by Phaithaya Banchakitikun

image credit: Phaithaya Banchakitikun

name: Bk Salon

architect: Phaithaya Banchakitikun

award: Gold

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Huai’an Zhongshuge Bookstore by Li Xiang
image credit: SFAP

name: Huai’an Zhongshuge

designer:  Li Xiang

award: Platinum

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Open Field Space Office by Rong Han
image credit: Shanxi Shanye Architectural Design Co., Ltd

name: Open Field Space 

designer:  Rong Han

award: Silver

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Xloop Shopping Mall by Junwei Shen
image credit: arch-exist

name: Xloop

designer: Junwei Shen

award: Bronze

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category

Aziz House Residential Building by Sara Harhash
image credit: Sara Harhash

name: Aziz House

architects: Sarah Harhash , Ahmed Nader, Mustafa Hussain and Abdulrahman Ahmed

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Zhi Lan Sustainable Hotel by Jinxiang Zhao
image credit: Jinxiang Zhao

name: Zhi Lan

designers: Haochen Xu, Jinxiang Zhao and Haige Huang

award: Bronze

category: Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design Category

Timeles Elegance Club House by Kris Lin
image credit: Kris Lin International design

name: Timeles Elegance

architect: Kris Lin

award: Gold

category: Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design

Mirabilis Bar and Dusk Lounges and Bars by Chun Hoong Lau
image credit: Chun Hoong Lau

name: Mirabilis Bar and Dusk

designer: Chun Hoong Lau

award: Silver

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category

Moon Trace Art Installation by Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
image credit: Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts

name: Moon Trace

designers: Nanfeng Zhan, Designer:Bojia Xiao, Designer:Xiaolan Xie, Designer:CLEMENT HIMBERT

award: Silver

category: Fine Arts and Art

Waterscape Colab with Jpre Office by Moriyuki Ochiai Architects
image credit: Daisuke Shima

name: Waterscape Colab with Jpre

designer: Moriyuki Ochiai

award: Silver

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category

The post explore standout architecture among a’ design award and competition 2025 winners appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

AIM Architecture leads the design of ZARA Nanjing Xinjiekou Flagship Store, introducing a new approach to fashion retail architecture in China. The project rethinks the flagship typology through spatial integration, fluid circulation, and interaction with the urban environment. The building’s exterior carves undulating facade features and a cantilevered canopy that extends into the public realm. These elements create continuity between the store and the adjacent streetscape, forming a direct connection with pedestrian flows and surrounding activity. A giant reflective sphere anchors the exterior, a dynamic gesture that asserts the building’s presence along the streetscape. The entrance plaza is conceived as an extension of this engagement, encouraging interaction beyond the boundaries of the store’s interior.

Internally, the layout is organized to support a multi-layered circulation experience. A red-brick staircase functions as both a structural and programmatic element, offering seating, product display, and transitional space. This central stairway connects the various levels and visually anchors the store within the surrounding context. Adjacent to this element is Zacaffè specialty coffee shop, contributing to the multifunctional nature of the space.

all images by Seth Powers unless stated otherwise | image courtesy of ZARA

Transparency and Layered zones define ZARA’s Flagship store

AIM Architecture’s design team organizes the entrance level around a double-height volume that allows for flexible use, including installations, brand storytelling, and collaborative events. This spatial anchor supports various configurations and content activations without altering the architectural framework. The design incorporates ZARA’s back-of-house systems visibly within the architectural language. A glazed wall reveals the automated clothing transport system, integrating logistics with the spatial and visual experience. This approach prioritizes operational efficiency while maintaining openness and transparency in the customer environment.

Material selections include exposed structural columns, polished concrete flooring, and a concrete cassette ceiling system. These elements establish a neutral yet robust framework for varied retail experiences. Ground-level retail areas include ZARA Salon, a smaller-scale setting for curated displays and tailored service. The upper floor accommodates more flexible, youth-oriented zones, where varied material applications suggest informality and experimentation. Digital integration is embedded through interactive features, including a professional-grade, bookable photo booth, ‘Zara Fit Check,’ which provides users with high-resolution imagery and digital engagement.

undulating facade elements establish a flowing visual identity along the street front | image courtesy of ZARA

a cantilevered canopy extends the store into the public realm, merging retail and urban space

the entrance plaza acts as a spatial threshold between city life and interior retail

public interaction is encouraged through architectural gestures that blur indoor-outdoor boundaries

double-height entrance volume creates a flexible platform for storytelling and brand events

the facade design connects the building with pedestrian street activity

a red-brick staircase doubles as seating, display, and a central connector between floors

retail circulation is layered and interconnected across multiple levels

the staircase’s materiality echoes Nanjing’s architectural heritage within a contemporary framework

the staircase integrates seating, display, and circulation

multi-layered circulation shapes the internal layout

material contrasts reflect a balance between efficiency and spatial experimentation

exposed columns and polished concrete floors define the material palette

configurable spatial zones allow for seasonal installations and collaborative activations

the concrete cassette ceiling provides visual structure and acoustic modulation

exposed columns and polished concrete floors define a clear architectural language

ground-level retail includes ZARA Salon, designed for curated, intimate customer experiences

embedded technology bridges physical retail and online engagement

upper-level areas explore youthful energy through varied textures and finishes

second floor shoes & bags

project info: 

name: ZARA Nanjing Xinjiekou Flagship Store

architect: AIM Architecture | @aimarchitecture

location: Xinjiekou, Nanjing, China

ground floor area: 3450 sqm

client: ZARA Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd | @zara

facade design, interior design, FF&E design, signage design, landscape design: AIM Architecture

design principals: Wendy Saunders, Vincent de Graaf

project manager: Marta Pozo, Sacha Silva

project architect: Ewa Szajda

design team: Alba Galan, Davide Signorato, Emilio Wang, Gabrielle Liu, Guanlin Li, Haochen Yang, Jerry Guo, Song Jie, Kang Jin, Junger Xia, Kexin Gao, Mia Lei, Nora Liu, Victor Mongin, Wei Zheng, Weisha Dai, Qianqian Bao, Xiao Wen, Zhang Yi, Zhao Na

visualization: JIAO Yan

detailed construction drawing design: AIM Architecture

general contractor: Shanghai Choyoin Construction Group Co.,Ltd

facade contractor: Caamaño Asia (KunShan) Furniture and Complements Co., Ltd.(glass)/ Shanghai Choyoin Construction Group Co., Ltd

structural engineer & facade consultant: bespoke. Sur-Mesure Engineering Studio

furniture: Caamaño Asia (KunShan) Furniture and Complements Co., Ltd.
lighting supplier: Fagerhult
audiovisual supplier: Inusual Comunicación Innovadora / ICI Technology Shenzhen Ltd.

Zacaffè design: Art Recherche Industrie

digital experience: Bagel Affairs

main materials: concrete, brick, solid wood, stainless steel, natural stone, ultra clear glass
photographer: Seth Powers | @sethpowersphoto, ZARA

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The Carlyn Showroom, designed by ARTARIAN, translates the brand’s core concept, ‘A Space of Affection,’ into a spatial framework emphasizing comfort, fluidity, and material contrast. Carlyn is a designer bag label that references the modern and artistic sensibility of New York, its founding city, interpreted through a contemporary design lens. Located in Hongdae, a district in Seoul recognized for its concentration of creative professionals and cultural infrastructure, the showroom and atelier are positioned to reflect both the brand’s identity and the surrounding urban character. The spatial layout is symmetrical, with a visual dialogue established between the open showroom and the more enclosed atelier space. The two programs are divided by function but linked through spatial continuity and circulation.

The showroom employs surreal and futuristic elements through the use of organic forms, reflective materials, and controlled lighting. These design choices introduce visual distortion and establish a perceptual threshold, reinforcing the concept of spatial transition. The mirrored steel ceiling extends the visual field vertically, contributing to a sense of dimensional ambiguity. Metallic finishes and object placement create a facade-like interior that adjusts with user movement and ambient lighting.

all images courtesy of ARTARIAN

Organic forms and reflective surfaces define Carlyn Showroom

For the atelier, the design team at ARTARIAN incorporates symbolic spatial language to express the brand’s experimental approach to materials and design development. This zone operates as both a workspace and a display area, highlighting the brand’s focus on texture, form, and fabrication research. The connection between distorted space and user movement is a key compositional strategy; visitors engage with the spatial narrative indirectly before encountering the full experience upon entry.

Throughout, the integration of Carlyn’s product line with site-specific installations reinforces the brand’s aesthetic and conceptual positioning. The environment emphasizes daily familiarity elevated through material expression, enabling users to engage with the brand identity through layered spatial cues rather than didactic presentation.

the layout features a symmetrical division between the showroom and atelier spaces

organic forms and reflective surfaces define the showroom’s surreal atmosphere

fluid circulation links two distinct program zones, unifying the overall spatial experience

controlled lighting enhances perceptual shifts within the showroom environment

the atelier functions as both workspace and display zone

display elements integrate product and environment into a cohesive narrative

furniture and object placement support a dynamic interaction with the space

custom installations connect the brand’s visual identity with material context

Carlyn’s identity emerges through immersive spatial design

a mirrored ceiling extends the vertical field, generating spatial ambiguity

reflective elements introduce spatial distortion and layered visual depth

project info:

name: Carlyn Showroom
designer: ARTARIAN(아트테리언)

location: Seoul, Korea

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Kringlan, Reykjavík’s iconic shopping mall, opens a new chapter with the complete renovation of its third floor. The transformation reveals a dynamic space where entertainment, social life, and design meet in harmony. More than a place to shop, Kringlan transforms into a vibrant crossroads for daily life in the city, shaped with a thoughtful design approach and enhanced by the ceramic surfaces of FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti and Iris Ceramica, brands belonging to the Iris Ceramica Group. From floor to ceiling, and from the food court to the cinema, the company’s stylistic choices, varying in color, and pattern, elevate the third floor to a sky-high quality of details.

Paolo Gianfrancesco of THG Arketektar, the leading architect & interior designer for this project, explains, ‘We’re talking of around 5,000 square meters of flooring, in addition to the wall coverings in all the kitchen and bathroom facilities. The choice of using ceramics is based on their easy installation and maintenance, their excellent durability, high safety and comfort standards for the users and, above all, the really wide range of patterns and visual aspects available.’

Kringlan, Reykjavík’s beloved shopping mall, opens a new chapter with the complete renovation of its third floor | all images © Studiocapn, courtesy of FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti 

How Ceramics and Community Revived Reykjavík’s Iconic Mall

Kringlan is the first indoor shopping mall built in Iceland and, since it was opened in 1987, has become a key attraction for the Icelandic people. Located in Reykjavik, it has around 150 commercial outlets and a total surface area of around 50,000 square meters. Malls have a special place in the Icelanders’ life, not only for shopping but also for social activities. Kringlan in particular has always played an iconic role for the population, both due to its position – close to the city centre and on Iceland’s busiest crossroads -, and because as an indoor facility it offers great services and activities where people can spend quality time.

In 2025, the shopping hub reveals a new third floor led by THG Arkitektar, creating a symphony of entertainment, social life, and design-led spaces. Born from a grand vision to rethink urban leisure, the renovation elevates Kringlan’s pulse with fluid and colorful touches, crafted with a keen sense of community. For the project, the porcelain stoneware surfaces played a central role in defining the new spaces. Around 5,000 square meters of flooring and wall coverings were provided by FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti and Iris Ceramica, bringing to the surface a simple complexity thanks to a diverse combination of the companies’ materials for over 20 catering outlets (Kúmen), a bistro, a multi-screen cinema, and the new Oche® entertainment area.

the area, measuring around 7,000 square meters, now has over 20 catering outlets (Kúmen), a bistro, a multi-screen cinema, and the new Oche® entertainment area

close attention was paid to the selection of ceramic coverings chosen by FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti and Iris Ceramica, brands belonging to the Iris Ceramica Group

An Environment Designed for Social Life, Enhanced by Ceramics

At the heart of the renovation is Kúmen Food Hall, named after the Icelandic word for cumin — a symbol of growth and renewal. Here, Pietra di Sciara by Iris Ceramica was used on floors and crossing areas, offering a natural look that echoes cobbled streets. The irregular shaped space with no sharp corners was enhanced by diagonal laying and varying colors that add a dynamic appeal.

Wall surfaces are clad in the classic brick format with the minimal, linear design of Elementi Rivestimenti, bringing a crafted, tactile quality to the interiors. The warm materials and dynamic layouts invite visitors to linger, meet, and explore a diverse culinary offering.

at the heart of the renovation is Kúmen Food Hall, named after the Icelandic word for cumin

wall surfaces are clad in the classic brick format with the minimal, linear design of Elementi Rivestimenti

Among the restaurants, the Finnsson Bistrot stands out for its lively, elegant atmosphere underlined by the infinite-colored stone and marble granules of the Venetian terrazzo-effect Venice Villa by FMG. Laid in the walkways, on the walls above the backsplash and table tops in the greenhouse, the charming mélange texture blends with the practical function of full-body porcelain stoneware.

For the architect Gianfrancesco, ‘one of the qualities of FMG full-body ceramics is that it can be used not only for floor and wall coverings but also for furniture. It is easy to cut and, in particular, the depth of shade and grain guarantees both the technical features of cleanliness and hardness but also a visual and aesthetic appeal that other materials don’t have. So we took the surface to where it can be touched by hand.’

the Finnsson Bistrot stands out for its infinite-colored stone and marble granules of the Venetian terrazzo-effect Venice Villa by FMG

Moreover, the play area on the third floor designed in partnership with Oche®, a famous northern European entertainment specialist, brings another layer of energy. In this playful zone dedicated to social gaming, FMG’s Palladio was selected for its high resistance to wear and its sophisticated stone-like appearance. The durability of these full-body ceramics ensures the space can withstand heavy use while maintaining its aesthetic appeal. 

Even the restrooms in this area, often an overlooked detail, were designed with care, creating vibrant, Instagram-worthy spaces filled with color and graphic design. The spaces offer an unusual combination of colors, sophisticated touches, as well as the natural plants and flows, and the elegant ceramic surfaces Elementi Rivestimenti by Iris Ceramica on the countertop. The resulting wow-effect invites visitors to take a selfie to share with friends. 

the Oche® space offers social gaming facilities to combine socialisation, premium food and pioneering games

Elementi Rivestimenti by Iris Ceramica clads the countertop in Oche® restaurant and helps to cereate a glam atmosfere

In the cinema area, the renovation emphasized comfort and quality. Access to concessions is now barrier-free, and a new VIP room — Iceland’s most luxurious — offers sofa beds, heated seating, phone chargers, and cutting-edge acoustics. Throughout these entertainment zones, the choice of hard-wearing, elegant ceramic surfaces supports both the functional needs of the space and its welcoming atmosphere.

With this transformation, Kringlan reinforces its role as a symbol of contemporary Reykjavik: resilient, social, and open to innovation. The collaboration with FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti and Iris Ceramica highlights how material choices can define the spirit of a place, combining beauty, practicality, and emotional resonance in a single, coherent design.

in the cinema area, the renovation emphasized comfort and quality

throughout these entertainment zones, the choice of hard-wearing, elegant ceramic surfaces supports both the functional needs of the space and its welcoming atmosphere

the Palladio by FMG technical ceramics laid beneath the shuffle boards was selected for its high resistance to wear and its sophisticated stone-like appearance.

even the Oche® restrooms were designed with care, creating vibrant spaces

the bathrooms are clad with the elegant ceramic surfaces Pietra di Sciara and Elementi Rivestimenti by Iris Ceramica

project info:

name: Kringlan

ceramics: FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti and Iris Ceramica

design and project management: THG Arkitektar

leading architect & interior designer – Paolo Gianfrancesco

consultants – M Worldwide

real estate developer: Reitir

location: Reykjavík, Iceland

The post FMG & iris ceramica’s surfaces revive reykjavík’s mall from the food court to the cinema appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

At 28 Fuencarral Street, in the center of Madrid, El Departamento completes the latest flagship store for fashion brand Nude Project named Nude House. Designed by studio founders Alberto Eltini and Marina Martín, the 195-square-meter space channels the glamorous spirit of vintage Hollywood mansions, fusing laid-back hedonism with urban energy. With nearly four meters of ceiling height and a fluid, barrier-free layout, the flagship operates more like an open house than a conventional store.

With other locations already established in Barcelona, Lisbon, Valencia, Ibiza, Bilbao, and Milan, the Madrid store cements El Departamento and Nude Project’s shared vision of a network of immersive spaces. 

all images by Miguel Fernández-Galiano

music and game rooms deepen the space’s intimacy

Stepping inside the Valencia-based El Departamento team’s flagship store design, a circular counter in wood and steel, illuminated with the backlit logo of the ready-to-wear label Nude Project, greets the visitors. The entrance space doubles as a lounge, outfitted with low sofas and a curved library shelf stocked with books and branded memorabilia. A soft terrazzo floor in white and green tones underlines the vintage mood, while technical lighting by Ilumisa draws attention to the streetwear collections of the brand.

As the journey continues, a hallway inspired by retro Hall of Fame designs leads to the music room, a cozy space wrapped in dark wood. Floor-to-ceiling shelves host curated vinyls, while sculptural Aurefect speakers and green leather armchairs rest atop a vintage Persian rug from Home Carpets. A velvet ceiling in emerald green sets the atmosphere, and a glowing Tekio lamp by Santa & Cole casts a warm, domestic light that reinforces the store’s residential feel.

The final stop is the game room, where a poker table doubles as a product display, surrounded by softly curved wood shelving and the brand’s signature baby blue flooring. Stainless steel details and a backlit coffered ceiling create cinematic reflections, turning the space into a stage for expression, self-discovery, and community.

El Departamento completes the latest flagship store for fashion brand Nude Project

a circular counter in wood and steel, illuminated with the backlit logo of Nude Project, greets the visitors

the 195-square-meter space channels the glamorous spirit of vintage Hollywood mansions

a hallway inspired by retro Hall of Fame designs leads to the music room

a stage for expression, self-discovery, and community

a curved library shelf is stocked with books and branded memorabilia

the flagship operates more like an open house than a conventional store

a curved library shelf is stocked with books and branded memorabilia

a poker table doubles as a product display

the brand’s signature baby blue saturates the curtains and the carpet

stainless steel details and a backlit coffered ceiling create cinematic reflections

project info:

name: Nude House

architect: El Departamento | @eldepartamento.estudio

location: 28 Fuencarral Street, Madrid, Spain

area: 195 square meters

lead designers: Alberto Eltini, Marina Martín
client: Nude Project | @nudeproject

furniture design: El Departamento

constructor: Triangular

flooring: Triangular

light fixtures (shades): Ilumisa

feature lamp: Tekio by Santa & Cole via Muebles Lluesma

textiles: Deco & You

persian rug: Home Carpets

signage and speakers: Aurefect
photographer: Miguel Fernández-Galiano

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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