Rotterdam-based arcitecture firm OMA recently released its plans for renovating the KaDeWe Department Store in Berlin, Germany. While the 60,000 square meter department store has been a fixture for many years, the massive retail outlet is poised to receive a contemporary update.
KaDeWe Department Store is housed inside a century-old building in the heart of Berlin. The plans for the renovation involve splitting the store up into distinct quadrants, each of which will have a distinct entrance and circulation space. Giving each space its own identity is intended to complement change consumer preferences and the growing shift towards online shopping. As OMA explains, "The new components fragment the original mass into smaller, easily accessible and navigable components."
The department store makeover demonstrates how physical retail spaces are trying to adapt to changing consumer behavior.
Contemporary Department Store Makeovers
The KaDeWe Department Store is Set to Receive An Upgrade
Trend Themes
1. Upgraded Department Stores - Department stores are undergoing contemporary makeovers to keep up with changing consumer preferences and behaviors.
2. Distinct Quadrant Layouts - New department store designs are featuring distinct quadrants with individual entrances and circulation spaces.
3. Fragmented Store Design - Contemporary department store designs are splitting the store up into smaller and easily accessible navigable components.
Industry Implications
1. Retail Industry - The retail industry is being disrupted by changing consumer preferences, and physical stores need to adapt to keep up with online shopping.
2. Architecture Industry - Architecture firms can seize on the opportunity to design and update existing department store spaces to better meet the needs and expectations of customers.
3. Construction Industry - The construction industry can take advantage of the trend and demand for department store makeovers to deliver efficient and cost-effective modernization projects.