The Department Store by Viennese studio Labvert is home to European shoe retailer Deichmann. Located in the north Austrian city of Wels, this retail store concept is designed with form, practicality and finance in mind.
Labvert's Stephan Vary explains that "like a lot of other European towns, the inner commercial city is dying, mainly because of the shopping malls in the suburbs." Because of this, the studio's client request featured a two storey building because a third level would not prove efficient or cost effective.
In order to achieve both aesthetics and efficiency in their design, the architects simply added a third storey facade to their existing structure. The result is a window-clad building that gives its structure the illusion of a third storey.
Cubed Window Retailers
The Department Store by Labvert Houses European Shoe Shop Deichmann
Trend Themes
1. Window Facades - Incorporating facade designs that simulate additional storeys, providing an aesthetic that's both easy on the eyes and cost efficient.
2. Department Store Consolidation - Creating multilevel storefronts to remain competitive with suburban shopping malls and resist inner commercial city decay.
3. Retail Store Concepting - Designing retail stores that balance practicality and form while keeping cost effectiveness in mind.
Industry Implications
1. Architectural Design - Opportunities for design firms that can balance aesthetic value and cost effectiveness in their building.
2. Retail Industry - Department stores can maintain competitiveness by consolidating into multilevel storefronts and exploring new retail concepts.
3. Commercial Real Estate - Opportunities for developers to invest in multilevel storefronts and collaborate with design firms to optimize the use of space for cost efficiency.