FIVE SNEAKERS SHOP
PROJECT: FIVE Sneakers Shop
DESIGN: as-built ARQUITECTURA, INTERIORISMO, INFOGRAFÍA
PROJECT TEAM: PABLO RÍOS, interior architect / MONCHO REY, architect
LOCATION: Puente 36 - 15009 A Coruña (SPAIN)
AREA: 90 m2
YEAR: 2014
PHOTOGRAPHER: ©MONCHO REY
The starting point was a sporting-goods shop, currently going through rough times, located near a well known department store at the A Coruna’s town center.
The new owners are betting to put their focus on sneakers sales almost exclusively.
The aim of the project is to give a radical facelift to the decadent appearance of the former store, taking into account the limitations due to a meager budget. This was achieved through the simplification of the construction systems, the selection of the materials, and the re-use of some of the existing lightning and furniture that was deemed suitable to be integrated into the new space.
The total area of the ground floor is 90 square meters. It is located in the corner of the building. Due to the large glass façade, there is an excess of natural sun light.
The project is strongly conditioned by one of the shop windows, that we considered it to be the main one, due to it faces a busy street, works as a focus of attraction, so the sneakers are displayed taking this into consideration.
The general idea was to create a uniform “canvas” where furniture and lightning takes its place.
In order to achieve this uniformity, we played with the dualism of “background” and “shape”, dark grey and natural pine wood.
The main exhibit area is made up panels up to 2.20 meters high which is composed of 860 wooden blocks (45/22.5/16) x 15 x 10 cm., rotated 45 degrees from the wall so that the sneakers can be looked from the interior as well as the exterior, through the big window.
The resulting composition is a dynamic geometry, with a strong visual attraction. The composition, the movement of the blocks back and forth, generates spaces to place the footwear. That creates a volumetric effect which allows the contemplation of the exhibit.
The exhibition area spreads through to the perpendicular wall through a panel made of pinewood slats of different thickness. Here the sneakers are displayed on big iron nails, separated two by two.
A 3.60 m. long bench (capable to be separated in 3) compliments this area. It combines 22 mm. thick pinewood planks with blocks of 45 x 15 x 10 cm, placed in the same way as the wall-mounted selves.
A lattice divider made of pinewood sticks separates areas and provides privacy to the fitting rooms. Also, sweaters and complements can be displayed on it.
Walls and ceiling are painted in grey. The canvas is completed with a “burned-wood” laminated floor.
At the shop’s counter area, a timber cladding serves as a backdrop to cover-up the toilet and the wardrobe, and provides privacy to the stairs that access the storage room on the top floor. It is made with wooden slats of varying size and thickness, to minimize surplus material.
The as-built ARQUITECTURA team is also responsible of the corporate design.